Bhatkal: Residents of Bhatkal have expressed concern over deteriorating sanitation and drainage conditions along National Highway 66, alleging that incomplete infrastructure works, garbage accumulation and wastewater discharge have aggravated problems in several parts of the coastal town ahead of the monsoon.
The affected highway stretch witnesses heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement daily. However, unfinished highway expansion and drainage works have left several locations prone to waterlogging and waste accumulation, residents said.
Near the KSRTC bus stand, adjacent to Noor Masjid, a pipe laid across the highway and covered with soil has emerged as a source of concern. One end of the pipe remains exposed, and wastewater and refuse have reportedly been flowing through it into a nearby drain over the past several days. The source of the discharge remains unclear.
Residents said the situation could worsen once monsoon rainfall intensifies. During the rainy season, wastewater from residential areas often mixes with rainwater and overflows onto roads, causing inconvenience to students, patients travelling to hospitals and other commuters.
The foul odour from stagnant wastewater and accumulated garbage has also become a nuisance for nearby residents, shopkeepers and worshippers visiting places of worship in the area, they said.
Although the monsoon has set in, rainfall has so far remained below normal levels, limiting the immediate impact of the problem. Residents, however, fear that heavier rains forecast in the coming days could aggravate the situation.
Locals have urged authorities to complete the pending drainage works before heavy rains set in and to restore the damaged drainage network without delay. They have also sought the intervention of the Assistant Commissioner and National Highways Authority officials to expedite remedial measures and prevent potential public health hazards.