Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan has ordered an investigation into the collapse of the barrier wall constructed as part of the Netravati River Front project. Assistant Commissioner Raju K. stated that notices will be issued to the supervising officers, and payments to the contractors responsible for the construction will be withheld pending further inquiry.
The Netravati River Front (waterfront) project, stretching 2.1 km from Morgansgate to Bolar, developed by Mangalore Smart City Limited, aims to transform the area into a walking zone. As part of the project, a barrier wall was constructed along the riverbank, and soil filling was carried out. However, heavy rains last week caused a section of the barrier near Mulihithlu to collapse.
Smart City officials reported that 1,200 meters of the project has been completed, with some areas filled with soil. These sections were intended to be leveled with a roller. Unfortunately, water infiltrated one part of the project, creating a pit and leading to the collapse of the barrier wall. Officials have stated that the contractor responsible for the construction will be questioned regarding the incident.
Arun Prabha, Senior Officer of the Siruva Smart City Project, assured that such problems would not recur.
The project spans 2.1 km, but currently, work is ongoing only up to 1,600 meters. Local opposition has led to court cases concerning the remaining sections, indicating that the project’s completion is contingent on resolving these issues.
Environmentalists have expressed strong opposition. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been approached by the NECF alleging violations of environmental norms related to the Netravati waterfront project. The NGT has registered a case and issued a notice to the district administration and the relevant committee to investigate these allegations. Both the committee and the district collector have conducted site inspections. Meanwhile, the collapse of the barrier wall has bolstered the objections of locals and environmental activists, strengthening allegations of regulatory violations.
Following the NGT order, a joint committee arrived to inspect environmental norm violations in the project area. The Deputy Commissioner had also visited the project area. However, the NECF, which filed the complaint with the NGT, was not informed or provided with the opportunity to present documents for verification. Smart City officials, along with some project supporters, were called for inspection instead. This has led to dissatisfaction among activists of the National Environment Care Federation (NECF), who are unclear about the nature of the project.
The site of the barrier wall collapse will be visited and inspected, and the engineers and officials responsible will be called and cautioned to carry out their work diligently. A notice regarding the collapse will also be issued to the concerned parties. The investigation is currently underway by the NGT, and work will resume only after obtaining permission from the NGT.
Raju K., Assistant Commissioner, Mangaluru
Shasidhara Shetty, Convenor of NECF, criticized the project for allegedly flouting environmental laws and wasting public funds. The project, initially estimated at Rs. 70 crore, has since been revised and sanctioned for Rs. 32 crore. The project covers a distance of 2.1 km and is designed for non-motor vehicle use, with facilities for cycling and other amenities for public enjoyment. Arun Prabha, a senior officer of Smart City Limited, informed that currently, 5% of the work, amounting to Rs. 5 crore, has been completed, and the contractor has been paid Rs. 2,42,18,650.