Suitable long range planning will help the residents from experiencing problems during heavy rains
BELAGAVI
With the monsoon nearing, residents across district, especially in Chikodi and Nippani taluks are demanding lasting flood-control solutions. Annual submersion of low-lying bridges over the Krishna, Vedganga, and Doodhganga rivers severs connectivity. In Belagavi city, Ballari Nala overflows due to encroachments and silt, flooding farmland and roads, causing crores in losses. Citizens lament inaction despite years of appeals. During the monsoon season, as the water level in Krishna and its tributaries increases, the lower bridges in the Chikodi subdivision submerge, cutting off road connectivity between villages. These low-level bridges lie in the Nippani, Chikodi, Kagwad, Athani, and Raibag taluks. Every year, villages are cut off from the road and forced to use alternative routes. No serious efforts were made to raise the bridges and maintain traffic as usual. More than 14 bridges, built across the Vedaganga River in Nippani taluk, on the banks of River Doodh Ganga and River Krishna, submerge as the river flow increases.
It has been about 10 years since the construction of Kallol-Yadur, Diggewadi-Ingali, Jugul-Khidrapur, Molwad-Chinchali, and Ugar-Kudchi bridges on the banks of Krishna River began.
Chandrakant Hukkeri, a social worker, said the stalled bridge work should be completed. The people's representatives and officials should focus on facilitating people living along the riverbanks. Subhash Sampagavi, Assistant Commissioner, said, there are alternative routes for all the villages where road connectivity is cut off. If the necessary plan is formulated and implemented to upgrade the low-level bridges, it will also benefit the people, and it will be possible to increase the height of the low-level bridges.
According to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, the district administration and city corporation are formulating a plan to resolve the issue of Ballari Nala, and all efforts are being made to implement the plan after the monsoon season.