Bhatkal: The dilapidated condition of Tenginagundi Cross Road, which connects to National Highway 66, came to the attention of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the issue was highlighted on social media. Following this, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) promptly issued instructions for repairs, pushing the Bhatkal Town Municipal Council (TMC) into action.
Syed Ali, a member of Heble Gram Panchayat, explained that drainage water was being discharged into the roadside stormwater drains near the entry point of Tenginagundi Road. As a result, sewage mixed with rainwater was accumulating on the road. Heavy rainfall further worsened the situation, creating large potholes and making travel by two-wheelers extremely difficult. According to him, he posted photos and videos of the road’s poor condition on X (formerly Twitter), tagging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office, the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner, District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya, and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Responding to the complaint, the CMO directed the TMC to resolve the issue immediately. Acting on the instructions, the in-charge TMC president, chief officer, engineers, and staff visited the spot for inspection. During the visit, Syed Ali pointed out that due to uneven levels in the roadside drains, rainwater was not flowing into them and was instead pooling on the road, effectively turning a large portion into a pond and causing severe inconvenience to commuters.
When the slabs covering the drains were removed for inspection, it was found that nearby hotels and households were illegally releasing wastewater from toilets and bathrooms into the stormwater drains. It was also discovered that, as the stormwater drain began carrying sewage into adjoining areas, residents there had sealed off their sections of the channel to prevent contamination, which in turn forced all the wastewater back onto the road.
Municipal in-charge president Mohiddin Altaf Kharuri stated that upon realizing the seriousness of the problem, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority were also called to the site. Building owners along both sides of the road were summoned, and discussions were held to address the issue immediately.
Meanwhile, officials also decided to measure the road’s width to verify whether it meets the standard seven meters. Residents and hotel owners in the vicinity were strictly warned against discharging sewage into the drains. In-charge Chief Officer Venkatesh Nauda said that three days’ time had been given to stop the illegal discharge. He explained that the outlets must either be connected to the municipal sewage system (for which applications can be submitted) or diverted to private septic tanks. He added that the drains will be inspected again on Monday morning, and if the violations persist, fines along with further legal action will be imposed.
Nauda further confirmed that once the drainage issue is resolved, repair work on the damaged road will begin through the PWD. He noted that residents had been raising complaints for the past two weeks, and now that the matter has reached the Chief Minister, official orders for repair have also been issued.
