Daijiworld Media Network - Byndoor (SP)

Byndoor, Jan 23: The vented dam built across Sumanavathi rivulet in Bijoor village near here has been giving sleepless nights to the people living on the other side of the rivulet. The vented dam was built at Arekal for improving the underground water table of the rivulet and also to provide water to agriculturists. But because no protective wall was built on the eastern side of the rivulet, villagers of Uddabettu are facing problems.

After the Western Ghats and other areas through which the rivulet passes got good rain recently, flow of water in the rivulet increased, and water has entered some villages. The standing water has inundated roads, agricultural fields, areca nut plantations etc. The people of the villages are worried about the prospects of their crops getting destroyed.

The villagers here had prepared to raise second crop this time depending on the backwaters of the dam. However, because of improper execution of the vented dam, water got leaked, water collection diminished, and agricultural activities faced peril. The then MLA K Gopal Poojary, at the request of the people, secured grant of Rs 6.6 crore from the minor irrigation department and saw to it that a dam and automatic gates were built. Even concrete canals are being constructed. Current MLA B M Sukumar Shetty, has provided grant of Rs 1.5 crore for constructing protective wall to the west, and the work has been completed. Now, a protective wall is needed on the eastern side as houses and agricultural activities face danger because of the standing water.

Sukumar Shetty said that the area facing problems was visited along with concerned officials sometime back, and soon a protective wall will be built to protect the interests of the farmers.