Bhatkal: Concerns rise among residents of low-lying areas as Sarabi River faces obstruction due to accumulation of mud and stones, prompting frequent meetings by Sarabi River Horata Samiti to address the issue. In a recent development, a delegation from the Samiti met Uttara Kannada District In-charge Minister and Minister for Ports, Mankal Vaidya, urging immediate action to clean the river.

However, their hopes were dashed as Minister Mankal Vaidya informed them that the cleaning work for Sarabi River is not feasible this year and will only be considered for the following year. He emphasized the necessity of using dredging machines for silt removal and deepening of the river, starting from Bunder.

Concerns were raised by the delegation regarding potential flooding in low-lying areas during heavy rains, especially in areas like Ghausia Street, Mushma Street, Khalifa Street, Daranta, Dongarpalli, and Belini, where the riverbanks lack protective fencing. Additionally, the delegation highlighted issues with sewage accumulation due to pumping stations, which remain unresolved.

Despite these pressing concerns, the delegation did not receive satisfactory responses from the Minister, leading to disappointment among its members. Present in the delegation were Maulavi Anjum Gangawali Nadvi, Mohammed Hussain Askiri, Mubashir Hussain Hallare, Imshad Mukhtasar, Ashfaq KM, Mustafa Askiri, Shamoun Haji Faqih, Maulavi Irshad Naitey Nadvi, Irshad Siddiqa, Ubaidullah Ishaqi, and executive members of local social organizations Majlis e Islah wa Tanzeem, Mr. SM Syed Parvez, Advocate Imran Lanka, Imtiyaz Udayawar, and Irshad Gawai.