Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network–Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jun 4: Road here looks beautiful during sunshine at Siddakatte near here. But once it rains, the water flows on the road.

Road widening work at a cost of Rs 1 crore, approved by district in -charge minister Ramanath Rai under Appendix E Project, is progressing at brisk pace.

Karkala’s contractor D R Raju had started the work about six months ago amidst allegations that some shop owners and traders have illegally occupied land meant for road.

Meanwhile there were counter allegations from traders and building owners that road is being constructed on their private land. In the beginning after completing the survey work, large road side trees were cut along with spreading stone gravels with the help of JCB. The work got delayed as pipes were laid for supply of drinking water from Phalguni River under Bahugrama drinking water project. It is said that drainage work has been suspended now due to non-cooperation by building owners and private land owners here.

PWD assistant executive engineer Umesh Bhat said that local Sangabettu gram panchayat has been entrusted with the responsibility of persuading local people to let their land to construct road side drains.
The road has been widened to a width of 10 meters and length of 500 meters so far. Though it looks beautiful, in the absence of drains, the rain water filled with sludge flows all over on road. The drains were constructed four years ago on most of the places on Bantwal-Moodbidri Road.

It is said that landlords not constructing suitable drains after levelling their land is the reason for the mess.

Siddakatte is a fast developing place in this area.