Bhatkal: Examining the problems created in the Sharabi river in the recent days, the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Bhatkal, MN Manjunath, paid his visit to Ghausia Street and held a inspection of the pumping station and Sharabi river. Observing the situation, AC expressed his anxiety over the contaminated water which has been released into the Sharabi river. 

Bhatkal TMC president Muhammad Sadiq Matta, who was present during the AC's visit, briefed to the AC Manjunath that the pumping station was installed here on 2006, which is over a decade ago and till todays date, no source of maintenance had been conducted. As and when the motors get spoiled, the local people used to inform the concerned authorities to get it replaced immediately and for while the authorities used to pump the drainage water into the Sharabi river. But now, it was a shocking information, that all the four motors fitted at the pumping station are ruined and due to this, with the excess amount of force, the dirty and the filthy water were being released into the Sharabi river, which resulted the river of a clean water convert into a drainage pond and due to this, around 500 water wells located in this area too were spoiled and made the life of the residents intolerable who are struggling for drinking water.

AC Manjunath was surprised that "there are more than 500 houses in the area and how did the residents allow to build pumping station? Why didn't the residents keep an objection during construction days? Even the roads are very narrow in this region, and how was it possible for the lorry to enter to take the garbage?". He also expressed his anger over the silence of the residents over no objection on construction of pumping station a decade ago.

Responding to the AC's questions, Muncipal standing committee chairman, Qaiser Mohtesham said that, a decade back in 2006, the muncipal councillors cheated and harassed and misguided the people and constructed a pumping station in Ghausia Street. He also demanded an immediate shifting of the pumping station to other area.

AC Manjunath, instructed the president of the TMC to immediately pass a resolution asking for a purchase of new motors. So that he can approach it to the DC requesting to grant permission for a purchase of required motors soon.

Tanzeem General Secretary Muhiddin Altaf Kharuri, Vice president of TMC Ashfaque KM, Councillors Dr. SM Syed Salim, Fayyaz Mulla and many other local people were present.