Canal dredging work begins in Virajpet
Madikeri: The
Virajpet Municipality
has initiated canal dredging work to avoid possible disasters during the rainy season by undertaking silt removal in the canals of Virajpet town.For many decades, the canal in Virajpet was filled with silt.
During the rainy season, when the water level increased, it overflowed onto the main road, causing problems for residents on the side of the canal.The Virajpet Municipality administration, considering the possible inconvenience to residents, decided to desilt the canal before the rainy season. As a precautionary measure, the work is progressing in full swing to ensure that water flows smoothly in the canal during the rains.Virajpet Municipality president Dechamma Kalappa personally inspected the silt removal work and gave directions to the officials. Responding to reporters, president Dechamma Kalappa said, "For many decades, the canal was filled with silt, and during the rainy season, water entered the houses, and many other problems surfaced. We have taken up the work of cleaning the canal for about 15km so that the water flows smoothly."Meanwhile, a bridge on one part of the canal is in a dilapidated condition. Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna has given a grant of Rs 15 lakh for the maintenance of the bridge. The repair work of the bridge will begin soon, said Pattada Ranji Poonacha, the municipality member.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Uttarakhand residents question monsoon preparedness, claim recurring issues remain unaddressed
Dehradun: With the India Meteorological Department forecasting above-normal rainfall this monsoon, fears of landslides and flooding have escalated, particularly in the hill districts. Residents have raised concerns about choked drains, damaged roads and bridges, and a lack of pre-emptive measures, issues that remain unresolved despite recurring monsoon havoc. In Bageshwar, where landslides and waterlogging have become routine, locals say the administration has failed to act despite crores in losses each year. Key roads and bridges damaged in last year's rains remain in disrepair, and drainage systems in many areas are still inadequate. The situation is worsened by the formation of a temporary lake in the Shambhu River in Kapkot. Former district panchayat president Harish Aithani questioned the administration's readiness: "Even a short spell of rain covers roads with muck and sends boulders tumbling. This is their preparation? Even the drains haven't been cleaned." Citing a recent incident when a local on a scooter got injured after slipping on a mud-covered road, he added that "around five people" fall every day on the roads and despite complaints to the district magistrate, nothing has changed. District disaster management officer Shikha Suyal said 61 landslide-prone spots have been identified across 30 roads, and excavators will be stationed at these sites for emergency clearance. Last year alone, monsoon-related damages cost the district Rs 42 crore. District magistrate Ashish Bhatgain said an NDRF team is now stationed in Kapkot, with forest, police, and revenue teams on alert. In Dehradun, residents are frustrated that civic work continues right up to the start of monsoon, worsening waterlogging and traffic. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal pointed out that civic bodies continue to dig up roads instead of preparing for the rains. "We should have a system in place directing civic bodies to halt new work before the rains and start preparing. But they keep digging and then blame traffic jams, waterlogging, and bad roads on the rain," he said. Advocate Shiva Verma echoed similar concerns, saying key tasks like drain cleaning and retaining wall construction near the Bindal and Rispana rivers remain pending despite frequent flood deaths in these areas. In response, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation said over 16,000 tonnes of waste had been cleared from the Rispana and areas like ISBT are currently being overhauled. In Nainital, locals say safety continues to be sidelined in favour of beautification projects, even as the region's terrain grows more fragile. Multiple appeals to the chief minister's portal have reportedly gone unanswered. Landslides here continue to expose the limits of quick fixes. In Oct 2023, a major slide displaced 24 families in Nainital after which geo-bags were used as a temporary remedy, but the promised safety wall remains missing nearly two years later. A month later in Bhimtal, a landslide on Dhungshil hill underscored the failure of earlier check dam interventions. Locals are now demanding geological surveys and long-term reinforcement. Tourism infrastructure hasn't been spared either. In Aug 2024, a landslide triggered by a cloudburst wiped out Dorothy's Seat, popular as Tiffin Top, dealing a blow to the local economy. A section of the Naini Lake drain wall had also collapsed last year, and the temporary cement-bag fix failed quickly, further highlighting the pattern of patchwork solutions. These aren't isolated incidents. In 2018, a chunk of Lower Mall Road collapsed into the lake. Emergency repairs restored traffic, but a lasting solution never followed. Only after eight tenders and a cost escalation of Rs 70 lakh did a contractor finally agree to restore the stretch, though actual work is still pending. The Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre (ULMMC) had launched a geo-database project in Dec 2024 to map high-risk zones like Balia Nala, Mall Road, and Naina Peak. But on the ground, locals say there is little to show for it. With the rains already underway, fresh risks have emerged. In Ramnagar, Friday's downpour caused the Dhangadhi drain to breach, flooding NH-309, a key route linking Kumaon and Garhwal. To prevent further disasters, Pithoragarh DM Vinod Kumar Goswami inspected the district disaster mitigation office and asked officials to bring down the 30-minute average response time. He directed teams to clear drains and culverts before the rains and position earthmovers at known slide zones. Contact details of remote employees were verified, satellite phones checked, and instructions passed to villagers and field staff. In Udham Singh Nagar, DM Nitin Singh Bhadauria held a high-level preparedness meeting on Friday, ordering all departments to remain on high alert for flooding and waterlogging. "No officer shall leave headquarters without permission, and phones must stay on at all times," he said, warning of strict action under the Disaster Management Act for non-compliance. Tehsils, police, and forest departments were told to ensure disaster-response equipment is ready. Drain cleaning must be completed without delay, and the irrigation department was asked to expedite river-channelisation and provide visual documentation. He also emphasised road safety audits, especially to remove hazardous roadside trees. All 29 flood outposts must be staffed round-the-clock, with 24x7 control rooms active at both district and tehsil levels. Medical officers were told to stock up on essential medicines and ensure ambulance readiness. Vulnerable villages must be monitored, shelters identified, and toilets, electricity, and water ensured. "No classes must be held in dilapidated school buildings," Bhadauria told the chief education officer. NDRF, SDRF, and SSB units have also been put on standby. Despite these efforts, the larger pattern remains unchanged, officials scramble each monsoon, but systemic reforms and permanent fixes remain elusive. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Print
3 days ago
- The Print
Hundreds left homeless in Delhi's searing heatwave as authorities raze Govindpuri slum
Among the many despondent residents was 45-year-old Satyawati, a domestic worker who was born and raised in the very camp now turned into rubble. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) said that 344 jhuggi constructions, the majority of which were uninhabited, were demolished on its encroached land and that there was no stay by any court. New Delhi, Jun 11 (PTI) As bulldozers rolled in before dawn at the Bhoomiheen jhuggi-jhopri camp in south Delhi's Govindpuri on Wednesday, families scrambled to gather their meagre belongings in the dark. By the time the sun was up, hundreds were left homeless in the searing heatwave of the national capital. 'I was born here. My parents died here. I don't live with my husband, so I take care of my 16-year-old daughter and son alone,' she told PTI. 'We have been on the road since morning. We have not eaten. It's too hot still I have come to Tughlaqabad to see if I can find a room on rent,' said Satyawati, with exhaustion evident in her voice and on her face. Satyawati washed utensils in nearby bungalows for Rs 6,000–7,000 a month. But today, she is unsure how she will make it through even this week. 'We thought the demolition would start at 10 am or 11 am, but they came at 5 am. People were still asleep,' she said. The demolition drive comes as Delhi reels under a severe heatwave. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert, with temperatures touching 45.5 degrees Celsius in parts of the city. For the residents now out on the streets, the timing of DDA action has only added to their misery. 'We have nowhere to go,' said another woman resident, her belongings piled in plastic bags beside her. 'There were promises of Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makaan, but we were never allotted any flat. Now we will have to live on the road,' she claimed. Most of the camp's residents are migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The DDA had issued notices to the residents on June 9, giving them three days to vacate. 'All residents of Bhoomiheen Camp, Kalkaji Extension, were informed as per court directions that illegal clusters would be demolished,' a notice had said. The area was cordoned off by police and paramilitary forces as the demolition began. 'We have deployed adequate force to ensure peaceful execution of the drive. No one will be allowed to breach law and order,' an official said. The Bhoomiheen Camp has faced multiple demolition drives — earlier in May and in July 2023. This latest action follows the dismissal of writ petitions by the Delhi High Court, according to the DDA. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, responding to criticism by the opposition, said the government could not override court orders. 'Displaced families are being provided accommodation,' she said on Sunday. However, many residents claimed that they have received no help so far. With the mercury rising, the displaced residents now face an even greater battle — surviving the streets in the grip of a deadly heatwave. PTI MHS SSM RT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Storm uproots trees, disrupts power supply in Nizamabad and Adilabad
NIZAMABAD/ADILABAD: Torrential rains accompanied by strong winds battered Nizamabad and Adilabad districts on Monday night, causing widespread disruption to power and drinking water supply, damaging infrastructure and claiming one life. The severe weather uprooted trees, toppled electrical poles and left residents grappling with significant inconvenience, particularly affecting the elderly, patients and children. In Nizamabad, around 8.45 pm, Srinivas, a 55-year-old electrical line inspector, was fatally injured. Seeking shelter in a toddy shop during the storm, he was struck by a falling tree branch, resulting in a severe head injury that proved fatal. The squally weather caused extensive damage across Nizamabad town and surrounding areas. In Gauthamnagar, four electrical poles were uprooted and several trees fell, blocking roads and disrupting normalcy. Similar scenes were reported in other parts of the district, including Nandipet and Navipet mandals, where the storm raged for over an hour. Many residents endured a sleepless night due to power outages and the lack of drinking water, exacerbating challenges for vulnerable groups. According to R Ravindar, Superintendent Engineer of the Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) in Nizamabad, the storm led to the collapse of 123 electrical poles and damaged three agricultural transformers, with estimated property damage of Rs 18.30 lakh. 'Our teams worked tirelessly to restore power. Electricity has been restored across the district by Tuesday afternoon,' Ravindar said.
