Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Oct 27: A heart-warming incident took place giving the term “social service” a new meaning. Thirty one community-minded residents of Ujjodi came together for a good cause by contributing Rs 25,000 to construct a drain which was blocked owing to encroachment near Ujjodi Mahakali temple.

The blockage on the road connecting Suvarna Lane (behind Father Muller Hospital) and Ujjodi near the temple had been a source of great inconvenience, as the residents staying close to the National Highway had to take a detour to reach the city.

The residents then took matter in hand. They repeatedly under the leadership of Sylvia Sequiera, requested the deputy commissioner who is also the administrator of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) to tackle the matter, who later conceded and ordered for the breaking down of the encroachment on September 11.

But when the encroachment was demolished it resulted in water logging in the area due to the absence of a storm water drain. The residents once again approached the DC requesting him to solve the new problem. The DC then proffered a solution and asked the residents to pool in a share of the total cost, to which all agreed, recalled Sylvia Sequiera. After which they convened a meeting to discuss the matter.

At a meeting which was held between 3 pm to 9 pm, they managed to collect Rs 25,000. No one was forced to contribute, in fact voluntarily all came forward to contribute money for the said purpose. Once it was done, they handed over the money to MCC, prompting it to start work.  Currently the status of the project is that a part of the stretch has already been completed. The length of the storm drain is 49 metres, which even includes a culvert. The work is estimated to cost Rs 1 lac.

MCC joint commissioner Ajith Kumar Hegde who is constantly monitoring the work at site regards this feat as a “major move in the public-private participation” in the city. He also expressed his happiness at seeing the public coming forward. Moreover now they can themselves check the quality of work. He hoped more people would initiate such steps.