With heavy rain continuing in the region, residents fear that the situation could worsen unless the drainage channel is restored.
A rainwater channel passing through the Vedha Shankaranagar area under Uppinangady Gram Panchayat has reportedly been filled with soil. Residents allege that soil was dumped into the channel near residential plots on the road connecting the area to Sri Rama School.
The channel had traditionally carried rainwater away from the surrounding areas. With the flow obstructed, residents say water is now entering neighbouring plots and agricultural land.
‘We complained, but the water is still here’
The impact is being felt most by farmers and residents whose land lies along the natural flow of the water.
Water stagnating in agricultural fields is reportedly affecting crops and creating conditions favourable for mosquito breeding. Residents fear that continued rainfall could lead to further damage to farmland and homes.
Jyothi, one of the affected residents, said the issue had been brought to the attention of those concerned even when the soil was being dumped into the drainage channel.
Despite this, she said, the channel remained blocked.
“If the drainage channel is not cleared immediately, further damage could occur to agricultural land and nearby properties,” she said.
Schoolchildren caught in the problem
When vehicles pass through the waterlogged stretch, students travelling along the road can get drenched. Residents also fear that nearby low-lying areas could become dangerous if water levels rise further.
For residents, the question is straightforward: If a drainage problem is affecting a school, farmland and neighbouring properties, how long should they have to wait for action?
Complaints have reached different offices
Residents of Nattibail say they have approached the Deputy Commissioner, Puttur Tahsildar and the local gram panchayat regarding rainwater entering agricultural land and residential areas.
However, they allege that the complaints have been moving from one office to another without a permanent solution.
Residents say this delay is particularly worrying during the monsoon. By the time a complaint reaches the concerned official and action is initiated, further rainfall could already have caused additional damage.
Where did the traditional watercourse go?
Residents say rainwater has followed this route for generations. They now allege that parts of this traditional watercourse have disappeared or been obstructed in recent years, leaving rainwater without a clear outlet.
The Public Voice question
Residents are not asking for a new drainage system, they say. They want the existing watercourse to be restored so that rainwater can follow its natural path. The larger question, therefore, is one of civic responsibility:
Who is responsible for ensuring that a public rainwater channel remains open?
Has the site been inspected by the concerned authorities?
If complaints have already been submitted, what action has been taken?
And most importantly, will the channel be restored before the next spell of heavy rain causes greater damage?
For the people living around Vedha Shankaranagar and Nattibail, these are no longer questions for the future. They say the water is already at their doorstep.
Keywords:
Uppinangady drainage, Puttur rainwater flooding, Nattibail waterlogging, blocked stormwater drain, Sri Rama School, agricultural land damage, Puttur News, Puttur Suddi, Uppinangady News, Uppinangady Suddi, Citizen News Puttur,