Harekala Bridge-Cum-Dam Awaits Water Storage After Year-Long Delay

MANGALURU: A Rs 200-crore bridge-cum-dam built across the Nethravathi and declared ready a year ago – to serve twin city suburbs of Ullal and Bantwal, besides parts of Mangaluru city – doesn’t have a drop of water yet. The bridge-cum-saltwater-exclusion dam (SWED), launched in 2020, is awaiting a crucial survey to determine the actual area of submersion and the required compensation before water can be stored.

The dam is constructed under the Paschimavahini Scheme at Harekala. The four-metre-high dam will have 51 crest gates. The bridge provides easy access for people from Puttur, Bantwal, and other taluks to reach Harekala, Konaje, Mudipu, Thokkotu, Ullal, and Kerala. The project was launched by Minister for Minor Irrigation, JC Madhu Swamy, in 2020.

Mangaluru MLA and Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader said a survey would be conducted soon, paving the way for the start of water storage. “We’ve built a dam in Harekala since the water availability at Thumbe is not sufficient, considering the increase in demand. A sufficient quantity of water can be drawn from the nearly 4km gap between the Thumbe dam upstream and the new Harekala dam downstream.”

“All works related to the (new) Harekala dam are complete, and we have been conducting a trial run to see how much water can be stored in it. Further, the areas that will be submerged when storage begins will also be measured. We’ll maintain the water level to a point at which farmers and nearby residents are not affected. Compensation will be paid to property owners based on the survey. In the future, the storage level can be increased,” he said.

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP said, “I don’t think there is any fear of submersion of the nearby villages due to the new dam.”

The 7.5-metre-wide road with footpaths of one metre each on either side over the dam has already been opened. In fact, youth organization members had opened the bridge voluntarily by removing the barricades when the model code of conduct was in force in April 2023, and a case in this regard was also booked by Konaje police then.