Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jul 3: Residents of Thenkanidiyoor staged a protest against the Gram Panchayat on July 3 for mismanaging waste disposal, leading to ground contamination and water pollution.
The SLRM unit in Thenkanidiyoor has been accused of dumping harmful chemicals and other waste into the ground, covering it with mud. During the rainy season, this waste contaminates nearby water sources, causing health issues among the local population.
Shobha D Naik, President of Thenkanidiyoor Gram Panchayat, stated, “The waste in the SLRM unit has been accumulating for six years, and I have been in office for less than six months. Due to polluted water flowing into residential areas, I had the waste buried in the ground. The nearby borewell's water supply has been halted for a month, and we are now providing well water. This protest is politically motivated; they want me removed because I am an ST category president.”
Local resident Raja Naik voiced his concerns, saying, “The waste has caused waterlogging, mixing with stagnant water and contaminating residential water sources. Gram Panchayat drinking water is affected, and the officials must work for the people's welfare, consulting with them and addressing their needs.”
Sushmitha, another resident, described their plight, “For the last four days, our drinking water has been contaminated. The Panchayat has dumped 50 loads of waste near the water source, causing a foul odour. The president claims she consulted locals, but we were not asked. They should drink this polluted water first. The SLRM unit should be moved to a non-residential area. We have requested this due to potential future dangers, but our pleas have been ignored.”
Residents complained about the SLRM unit's surface waste being buried by the Panchayat president's sudden decision. This waste is contaminating underground water, affecting nearby wells and borewells. Drinking this polluted water has led to health issues among the elderly and children, and the site has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The officials' negligence is evident.
Following a fierce protest, the police inspector and EO Vijaya visited the site and assured a resolution to the problem.
Panchayat members Vinod Suvarna, Vikitha Suresh, Geetha Shetty, Malini, Arun Jathanna, Sathish Poojary Bailakere, Prashanth Hebbar, Pradeep Shetty, along with residents Althaf, Dinesh, and others, were present at the protest.