Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Aug 14: CPI(M), Mangalore City Committee, held a protest in front of the Mangalore City Corporation here on Monday August 13, demanding basic facilities to the residents of Bangrakulur.

A protest walk began from Ballalbagh and ended in front of the MCC office in Lalbagh. Many leaders of the CPI(M) and the residents of Bangrakulur took part in this protest.

“Bangrakulur is an area within the city limits that lacks basic facilities like tar roads, proper drainage, health facilities, street lights etc. All these facilities have to be provided at the earliest by the MCC," said Sunil Kumar Bajal, secretary, CPI(M) Mangalore.

There are nearly 100 to 150 houses in this area. It is easier for the people of this area to get connected to the city through a narrow bridge connecting the area with Dambel of Ashoknagar. The bridge that was constructed in the year 1979 is totally dilapidated and is posing danger to the passerby as two wheelers, children, senior citizens and others also use this bridge. There have also been incidents of two wheelers being thrown out of the bridge into the river.

From the fourth mile in Kulur, the drainage water gets mixed up with fresh water and hence gets collected in the Bangrakulur region, which is again a major tragedy. The whole area is filled with foul odor in addition to the threat of dangerous diseases being spread due to the contamination of water.

Also, in a place named Doddamane, the drainage water gets mixed with rain water, hence affecting cultivation. 

As there are no proper systematic ways of garbage disposal, the garbage and wastes are thrown out to the roadsides. The five kilometer long main road connecting Bangrakulur to the fourth mile in Kulur has never seen tars on them. Street lights have also stopped working since some time, but it has not yet been repaired.

“There are still more problems in these areas and hence the MCC officials have to take immediate action to save the lives of the residents of Bagrakulur,” urged the protestors.

Anna Florine D’Souza, convenor, Bangrakulur Nagarika Horata Samithi, Dayanand Shetty of CPI(M) and local residents were also present in large numbers.