Mangaluru: Due to incessant rains, sea erosion has intensified in Uchila – Battappadi area of Someshwar Municipality and has caused extensive damage to properties and normal lives. A resort is in the condition of sinking entirely. Sea waves have been lashing at three houses. As many as 20 households have been cut off from the main road as the one-km-long road has been completely washed away.
As the Syrian shipwreck too happened in the same area, people are worried about the oil spill. In a week more than 50 coconut trees have been destroyed. The road from Uchila to Battappadi has been eroded for the last four years. Now, again a km-long-road has been completely washed away. As a result, more than 20 households in Battappadi area have been disconnected from the road.
Mothers carrying children, children and the elderly have to move with difficulty on the dangerous broken road. One has to walk for kilometres without being able to commute on the vehicle.
While the houses of Aliccha, Zubaida and Praveen Battappadi are under threat, waves have started hitting the house of Rajeevi. Waves are also hitting the resort building on the other side. The coconut tree, enclosure wall, and the interlock in the resort premises have all washed away. Locals have expressed the opinion that the building will be completely taken by sea in couple of days.
No demo required, urgent action need of the hour
The works are being undertaken in Battappadi, however it seems like this is a ploy to swallow commission. There are others related to the works, who too are making profit by deceiving people.
The oil spill is on in a slow pace from sunken ship. This too has caused problems for aquatic life and all dwellers of coastal area. Fishing has been rendered difficult. Drilling has started since February, neither the District Administration nor the Government has taken it seriously. The road has not been repaired for four years.
The road from the end point to the Fort Temple is in danger of collapsing in a few days. There is no proper road for school-going children, sick people and old. The owner of the resort does not allow locals to commute through the resort. Even though the locals have been fighting for many years to install the sea wall, the District Administration has not taken notice. Uchila Battappadi area has become a rejected area in all respects.
There is also a possibility of breakdown of ones household while the house members are sleeping. MLAs accuse the BJP-ruled State Government of not paying attention to town panchayats, while MPs are busy blaming the failure of local MLAs.
A demonstration was not required post Submerging of ship. The District Administration should have taken immediate action to clear it. The security forces have spent crores of rupees to carry out the demonstration which rather looks like work undertaken for commission, alleged Sukesh, a local.