Villagers divert water due to flood threat

Karwar

 Torrential rains continue in Uttara Kannada district. Due to heavy rains, sand has accumulated in the riverside village of Ankola, filling the canals and creating a flood situation. Now, the villagers of this area have come together to cut down the sand dunes that were across the canals, allowing the canal water to flow into the sea.

Every year in the month of July, when the rains increase, the villagers have been doing this Kodi Kadiya work for the past many years. But this time in the month of May itself, due to untimely rains, the water level in the ditches has increased significantly. Since a huge amount of sand had accumulated in the ditch before the rainy season, the water in the ditch did not flow into the sea but remained in the ditch. Due to this, there was a fear of water intrusion into the surrounding agricultural land and residential areas.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the villagers voluntarily took up the task of clearing the sand dune. Their timely and collective efforts have averted a potential flood situation. This act of the villagers has been widely appreciated by the public.

Since the problem is solved only by cutting the kodi in the river area, those who have experience in the river area join together to cut the kodi every year.  For the people of the coastal area, agricultural activities here also get started after cutting the kodi. If the kodi is not cut every year, 8 surrounding villages get caught in the whirlpool of floods. Earlier during the British era, Rs 20 was given for this. But now the gram panchayat gives Rs 10,000, says Venkappa Nayak of the village.