Bhatkal: In response to a severe concern regarding the discharge of untreated drainage water from the pumping station in Bhatkal's Ghausiya Street into the Sharabi River, a special review meeting of the Underground Drainage (UGD) system was convened on Monday. District Incharge Minister Mankal Vaidya took officers to task during the meeting, which included officers from Karwar and Bhatkal, expressing his dissatisfaction with the incomplete and substandard UGD work. He strongly rebuked them, saying that despite allocating substantial funds for development and problem-solving, officers were releasing contractors without adequate work inspection, exacerbating people's problems.

Minister Mankal Vaidya instructed the Assistant Commissioner of Bhatkal to convene a meeting within the next 15 days, involving all relevant officers from Karwar, the Water Board, UGD engineers, Bhatkal councilors, and members of local social organizations. Their primary objective will be to swiftly resolve the outstanding issues. He directed the Assistant Commissioner to devise a plan to address these issues and ensure its effective implementation.

It is noteworthy that the issue gained significant attention after a video of untreated sewage water being discharged into the Sharabi River from Ghausiya Street went viral on social media, especially in the wake of a dengue fever outbreak and two suspected deaths due to dengue in Bhatkal. The inadequate UGD infrastructure has been identified as a contributing factor to the spread of diseases like dengue, as the sewage released into the river provides a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes. In response to these concerns, Minister Mankal Vaidya convened a meeting on Monday at the Bhatkal taluka administration meeting hall (Mini Vidhan Saudha), which was attended by Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Gangubai Maankar from Karwar, District City Development Project Director Stella Varghese, District Water Board and UGD Executive Engineer Ravi Kumar KM, Assistant Executive Engineer Bhaskar Gowda, IRB Engineer Subramania, Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner Dr. Naina, Tehsildar Tippe Swamy, Bhatkal Town Municipal Chief Officer Neel Kanth Mesta, Municipal Engineer Arvinda, along with various government officials, municipal councilors, and councilors of Jalipatan Panchayat, as well as members of local social organizations.

During the district review meeting, Minister Mankal Vaidya highlighted that ₹181 crore had been allocated for UGD projects in Bhatkal municipal and Jalipatan panchayat limits. However, the quality of work performed and the problems faced by the public have raised concerns. He emphasized that, since he took office six months ago, he allowed officers to work without interference to ensure they could operate freely. Nonetheless, he expressed his astonishment at media reports highlighting the release of untreated sewage water into the river from Ghausiya Street and the substandard UGD works. He reminded officials that they may have been unaware of the problems initially, but it was concerning that they had not taken any corrective action. Minister Mankal Vaidya cited a promise made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to Bhatkal in December 2014, where ₹200 crore was pledged to address UGD-related issues. The tender for the work was approved in 2019, with an expected completion date in 2022. However, half of the work remains incomplete, and public complaints continue to mount.

Minister Mankal Vaidya firmly warned the project director and associated engineers, inquiring whether they had visited Ghausiya Street to assess the situation. He questioned whether they were working to address people's problems or exacerbating them, stating that he would not hesitate to blacklist contractors, regardless of their size. He demanded that all work be executed correctly within three months, and any deficiencies remaining after this period would result in suspensions.

The meeting, which spanned approximately three hours, also saw local councilors and social workers raise concerns beyond the UGD, such as substandard backfilling work after UGD excavation, the absence of lighting on the National Highway, accidents arising from incomplete highway construction, and inadequate waste disposal facilities in Panchayat areas. Members of the Jalipatan Panchayat, including Advocate Imran Lanka, former Municipal President Parvez Qasimji, and former Vice President Qaiser Mohtsham, strongly advocated for UGD improvements. Additionally, Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Taufiq Beary raised questions about substandard work in Panchayat areas. Inayatullah Shahbandari, President of the social organization Majlise Islah wa Tanzeem Bhatkal, along with General Secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ and former president S M Parvez, joined in raising concerns and holding officers accountable.