Team Mangalorean - Suburban
Pics by Violet Pereira

Mangalore: River Phalguni is in the news again. This time it is not because of the mud-filling at Kulur, but because of unscientific erection of the Maravoor vented dam.

The vents of the dam have reportedly been placed close to each other, not leaving much room for the water to flow when in full spate during the monsoons. This is the first dose of monsoons after the dam was built. When the monsoon shows its real fury, what it is going to be is just unthinkable.

The residents of Padushedde village on the bank of Phalguni had a horrid experience on Monday, June 18. As Mangalorean.com visited the damage-hit area, a part of the house was collapsing in front of their own eyes and coconut trees were being washed away with the fierce flow of river water.

House of Oswald D'Souza has partially collapsed and the houses of Joseph and Thomas are in danger of collapsing anytime.  Alwyn D'Souza's one acre land along with coconut trees has washed away.  A total number of 100 coconut trees washed away in the flow.

The entire blame has been put on the wrong planning of the Maravoor dam. The river bank erosion reminded one of the sea erosion in magnitude and severity.

Our correspondents spoke to Sudhakar Shetty, the contractor of the dam. Speaking exclusively to Mangalorean.com, Shetty said that arrangements were being made to shift the personal effects and household goods and lorries are being arranged. 

Stones used to break waves in places of sea erosion would be used to arrest the damage. He gave a categorical assurance that efforts would be made to have the houses rebuilt at government expense, as also a protection wall.

The D'Souza brothers bitterly complained to Mangalorean.com that two weeks ago, they had foreseen this danger and cautioned Prabhakar Bhat, the engineer in the matter, but he did not heed their alert.