The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has proposed to rejuvenate four more waterbodies. However, water in some bodies already rejuvenated remains non-potable with continued flow of sewage.
The MCC has now proposed to spend ₹26.95 crore for the rejuvenation of four more waterbodies and development of three parks under the second phase of the Centrally-sponsored Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.
The council of the civic body in its meeting on November 28 approved this proposal. Of the total project cost, ₹1.95 crore has been allocated for the operation and maintenance.
The waterbodies proposed for rejuvenation are Jogimatta and adjacent lakes (₹2.4 crore); Byradi lake (₹1.35 crore); Baggundi lake (₹14 crore) and Kadekar Mallikarjuna lake (₹3.7 crore). The parks proposed for development are Souharda lane park (₹55 lakh); Kodical Kallakanda Park (₹2.2 crore) and Kadri Park (₹2.75 crore).
Rejuvenated Earlier
Of the lakes proposed for rejuvenation, the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) had invested in the rejuvenation of Byradi lake and Jogimatta lake when Ravishankar Mijar was the chairman between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
Asked about proposing to rejuvenate the two waterbodies again, an official of the corporation told The Hindu said, “The scope of rejuvenation is wide. It need not be taken into account only for dredging. It could be preventing seepage of sewage to water bodies or their beautification. The government appointed consultant for the proposed projects will identity the scope of work to which the fund under AMRUT 2.0 should be invested as per the guidelines. Hence the scope of work is yet to be identified.
Sewage Flow
Nemu Kottari, Secretary, Gujjarakere Teertha Samrakshana Samithi, Jeppu, told The Hindu that merely removing silt and beautifying waterbodies without stopping flow of sewage serves no purpose.
A case in point is the sprawling Gujjarakere at Jeppu spread over about three acres. The government invested about ₹10 crore in its rejuvenation which included dredging and beautification since 2001. “Its water is still not potable due to sewage seepage. Hence whenever a waterbody is rejuvenated, priority should also be given to stop flow of sewage. Otherwise the investment made is a waste,” Mr. Kottari said.
Mr. Kottari, whose samithi has been fighting for stopping sewage flow to Gujjarakere for some time now, said that sewage flows to the rejuvenated Moily Kere,Kavoor Kere and Byaradi Kere relentlessly.
Another member of the samithi said that there is a settlement of labourers near the Jogimatta waterbody. The sewage from the settlement flows to Jogimatta kere, he claimed.
The member said that there are many industries and residences in the surroundings of Baggundi lake. If the MCC rejuvenated it without taking steps to stop the flow of sewage and other waste to the lake, it will also join the ranks of Gujjarakere.
Mr. Mijar said that about 32 waterbodies were either rejuvenated or repaired during his three-year term as MUDA chairman. About ₹20 crore was invested for the projects.
Source and Image link: https://bit.ly/3VipZVL
