Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, May 25: The unscientific four-lane road construction seems to have caused additional problems for farmers along the Kundapur-Byndoor stretch.

The road that was to be expanded to a four-lane was getting widened, with mud filled on either side, to match its surface. The first rains have caused the mud piled along the roads to slip and cover the low-lying fertile fields.

The mud for the road was brought in tippers. No wall was erected by the road to prevent the erosion of the soil. The mud was washed away during the first rains at Tallur, Hemmady, Kirimanjeshwar, Uppunda, Bijoor, and Byndoor, among other places.

There are several agricultural lands on either side of the road from Kundapur to Byndoor. With red mud and clay already permeating the fields and house yards, one can imagine the extent of damage the monsoons could cause in the circumstances.

While red mud was used to raise the level of the road, clay was used in some other locations. Farmers have alleged that no precautions were taken by the contractor to prevent damage and urged for proper compensation.

While development is in progress in some places, farmers who depend on agriculture for generations have been put to hardship. The taluk administration needs to look into the matter. The elected representatives need to consider very seriously the problems being faced by farmers while undertaking development works.