Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Nov 8: The locals of Ullas Nagar near Kavoor here have expressed strong objection to the alleged illegal construction of houses on the hill closely attached to the Mangaluru International Airport. They fear that digging the hill to construct these houses has increased the possibility of landslides in the area along the airport road. Ullas Nagar is a low-lying area from the main airport road at Kavoor.

The locals have been agitating for several months against the digging of the hill for illegal constructions and the danger it poses, which will have a huge impact on the houses located at Ullas Nagar.

Locals allege that when Harinath was the mayor, he had ordered for the survey of the area and declared it as government land for which even street lights were installed.
Recently, when there was a minor landslip caused by rain, work was undertaken to level the affected region. Soon after, the hill was dug which posed additional danger to surrounding houses with illegal houses being constructed. Locals also say that they have complained to the department concerned several times but to no avail.

"For the construction of illegal houses, they have closed the road which leads to Kavoor junction and have also closed the drainage. During rainy season, the rain water from Kavoor flows to the drainage towards Ullas Nagar which has now been closed because of illegal house construction. We demand construction of drainage and breakwall to avoid land slide," says Sunitha, a local.

"We are unaware about the site under construction and for whom the house is being constructed. During rainy season there are chances of Kodagu incident repeating at Ullas Nagar, therefore, we need immediate solution of side wall construction to avoid landslide and drainage, as there is a need to avoid any untoward incident in future," said another local, T Hari Rao.

Reacting to the allegation, local corporator Lohith Amin said, "The locals have approached me to construct a drainage which has been done. There are a lot of illegal houses already constructed at Ullas Nagar and the same has been informed to the department concerned. Recently several organisations approached me and they are taking up the initiative to construct a house for a mentally unsound lady, who had applied five years ago under Ashraya scheme. Regarding the illegal house construction we have objected a year back but no action was taken. We will appeal to officials and town planning with regard to illegal house construction, and I will abide with the officials if they take action on evicting the ocupants," Amin said.