Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 27: Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that Mularpatna Bridge happens to be the first bridge in coastal region to become victim of sand mafia. He also blamed official apathy for this disastrous development.

Nalin, speaking to media persons in the city on Tuesday June 26, said that the locals had sent report supported of video recording relating to damage caused by unscientific extraction of sand at the base of the bridge, crumbling of bridge pillars etc during the last two years to the officials. "Still the district administration failed to take steps to stop illegal sand mining there. Sand extraction continued unabated with the support and influence of people then in power. If the officials were unable to maintain the damaged bridge, they should have informed about it to the government in writing. Because of the negligence of the officials, people of the region have to face hardships for over two years," he angrily said.

Kateel said he had visited the spot along with local MLA and asked district administration and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd to make temporary alternative arrangements for the people.

Kateel added that with the crashing of the bridge, the road to the hanging bridge across Phalguni River had become nonexistent and that the same has been restored. He said effort to provide connection by building culvert across a drain nearby is being made. Noting that tempos come to the starting point of the hanging bridge on the other side, he said once people cross the hanging bridge, arrangements have been made to transport them to different places by tempos.

Currently, buses having permits to move to Gurpur have to come back from there. All buses have to come till Mularpatna Bridge. The deputy commissioner has been asked to run two KSRTC buses from Mularpatna via Koltamajalu and Polali road, he explained.