Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jun 26: Former president of Kalavar gram panchayat, Kalavar resident Chandrashekar Shettigar and his family are spending days in fear and anxiety as their house is surrounded by water on all the sides after the person who bought the land next to their house closed an age old drain. It is unfortunate that concerned people are not putting an end to the misery though former president of the Kalavar grama panchayat himself is facing the travail.

The family is living in the house for the last seventy years. “Rain water was flowing freely into the drain until it was closed,” says Chandrashekar Shettigar. “I work on daily wages. The walls of my house were raised with mud. Therefore, my family and I are worried about the housing collapsing due to water stagnation. There should be a permanent solution to the problem,” he urges.

“Similar problem here in 2013 was solved by tahsildar Gayatri Nayak after she got the drain opened making way for the flow of water. The drain was closed again six months ago. As it pertains to land dispute, a case in civil court is in progress,” he informed.

Panchayat president and officers visited and inspected the spot. The president said that he has already spoken to the deputy commissioner about it who has in turn asked the tahsildar to vacate the block. “As per the orders from the tahsildar, the block will be cleared making way for the flow of water,” he said.

However, it is unfortunate that local administration has remained indifferent even though former president of gram panchayat himself is facing problem.