Mangaluru: With the monsoon setting into DK district, the sight of rain water overflowing the roads has become common in most areas. There are no proper water drains for the rain water to flow freely into. In some places, due to the garbage and waste thrown into the drain, the drains are blocked. The premises of KMC Hospital Attavar faced a serious situation because of the blocked water drains.
On June 15, at around 10:30 am, our correspondent received a call from a visitor to the hospital saying that the KMC Hospital premises in Attavar was flooded. The water had reached levels rising above the knee. People and vehicles alike found it difficult to enter the hospital. When our correspondent reached the hospital, the hospital authorities said that they had informed the Corporator of the ward, Divakar, last week about this problem but no action had been taken. “We thought that our Corporator would take some action. Later, we called another Corporator, Shailaja. But both were in confusion whether the area came under their ward or not. We are not even able to increase the height of the hospital entrance, as we do not know what the MCC has planned in regard to the footpath and drainage on the road in front of the hospital. We are waiting for the MCC to complete the footpath work.”
Our correspondent tried to contact Corporator Divakar, but his mobile was not reachable. When the correspondent asked the Corporator of Ward Number 55, Shailaja, she replied that the area did not come under her ward. Finally, mangalorean.com contacted Mayor Jacintha Alfred and explained to her the problems faced by the patients and people visiting the hospital. The Mayor immediately responded to the call and personally reached the spot.
When the Mayor reached the spot, Corporator Shailaja was present. She said, “This area comes under Corporator Divakar and not me.” When Mayor informed the recovery team, the team leader refused to carry out the work citing the reason that he is not from the ward. He belonged to the ward belonging to Appi and Shailaja. Immediately, the Mayor informed the officers to bring a JCB excavator and start the work on a priority basis, as it was a problem for patients visiting the hospital. She said, “There is no question of mine and yours. This is the time to take action!”
The hospital authorities assured to cooperate with the Mangalore City Corporation to carry out the work soon.
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Mayor Jacintha Alfred said, “This is not the time to shirk our duty. Whoever is available, should come and carry out the work because it is a matter of top priority when a situation like this happens near a hospital. The Mangalore City Corporation pays salary to the recovery team. Whenever there is a need, the team should respond and solve the problems.”
Speaking to mangalorean.com, Manager of KMC hospital Raviraj said, “We have been continuously informing the health officers about this problem. A pineapple vendor sells pineapples near the hospital gate and disposes the waste into the drain. We have informed the health officers several times in this regard. We have even informed the Corporators of the area, but both say that KMC does not come in their ward.”
Later, with the help of a JCB excavator, the blockage was cleared and water was drained from the hospital premises.
“yudhdha kaale shastraabhyaasa…”
So, our Mayor and MCC react AFTER the city gets flooded and citizens demand action with a clear ‘proof’!!! Wonderful!! Truly third-world style!!!
OUr elected representetives, whenever we call them to solve problem, they just ignore. They are not ready to listen to our plea. In this context media played an vital role in solving the problem. We have to appreciate the efforts of mangalorean.com.
It is usual for low lying areas get flooded during heavy showers. However KMC is a Health Centre and therefore it is expedient that The Corporation of Mangalore takes preventive measures to ensure that in future this important Hospital does not go through this ordeal