Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 6: Exactly a year ago, the city's garbage dump at Pachanady in the city had suffered a landslide, as a result of which huge amount of garbage had got deposited in the neighbouring Mandara area. The affected persons have been waiting for government's compensation package but the families have been somehow carrying on with their life in temporary residences provided to them.
Due to heavy rain experienced in the coast during the first week of August last year, a part of the huge heap of garbage had slipped from its position to Mandara residential area located about a kilometre away. A number of agricultural farms, houses etc were buried under this garbage. Over a hundred people living in 25 house were displaced. As many as 15 acres of fertile agricultural land was covered by the garbage. Some places of worship, ancestral house of renowned litterateur, Mandara Keshava Bhat, irrigation ponds and invaluable properties were covered under the garbage. However, no loss of life was reported.
Garbage landslide at Pachanady (file photo)
By way of temporary accommodation, the corporation had shifted 25 families to a residential complex of Karnataka Housing Board near Kudupu. Senior officials had held meetings and promised to provide permanent compensation to the aggrieved people, but this promise has been repeated but not met so far.
The government has provided good compensation package to families which lost agricultural land, but those who do not have proper documents have not been able to get the compensation. These families want these issues to be settled early. At the same time, compensation amount has not been fixed in case of houses constructed in converted lands. Reconstruction of Daivasthana, Nagabana, and the heritage house of the author need to be restored by the government.
One of the affected persons, Mandara Keshava Bhat, said that the government has not granted permanent package and the promise of providing permanent residences have not been met. He noted that people have been tired of approaching the officials and people's representatives and wished that the concerned will take steps to see that the needful is done as soon as possible.