On Tuesday, social worker Nithyananda Volakadu staged a protest in Udupi to draw attention to government negligence regarding a massive trench left open on land intended for construction. The trench, which has become an artificial pond, is located near the Government Mother and Child Hospital on KM Marg.
Nithyananda conducted his protest by standing in the steel bucket of an earthmover, beating a thamate drum, and holding a warning placard. He highlighted that the trench was originally dug for the construction of a hospital under a public-private partnership with B.R. Shetty Ventures. The project, which was intended to utilize land donated by the late Haji Abdullah for healthcare facilities, was abandoned when the private partner withdrew a couple of years ago. As a result, the excavation site has remained neglected.
According to Nithyananda, the trench accumulates rainwater every monsoon, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes and posing a health risk to the community and nearby buildings.
Psychologist Dr. P.V. Bhandary, who supported the protest, noted that the project, which was initiated under the previous Siddaramaiah government, has been stagnant for the past six years. Dr. Bhandary called on the district administration to investigate the issue and take immediate action to fill the trench to prevent water-borne diseases and other hazards.