Ankola: Following directions of the District In-charge Minister R V Deshpande, Deputy Commissioner K Harishkumar and his team inspected the places marooned by water in Ankola taluk on Sunday and instructed the officials of the taluk administration and taluk municipal council (TMC) to take suitable steps to rescue people.

The team visited Nadibag, Pujageri, Kotewada, Baleguli and other places where rain has wreaked havoc and lent ears to the grievances of the people. The DC saw the houses inundated in water at Nadibag and assured construction of protection wall so that the sea water does not gush into the houses due to the impact of high tides. He also directed the tahsildar to offer a solution to the problems faced in Nadibag, Belambar, Pujageri, Vandige and other villages which get inundated due to the Pujageri stream.

Anwar Wastar, a resident of Kotewada along the highway, who lost some property as water gushed into some of the houses in his area, appealed the DC to respond to his problem.

To check the gushing of water into houses lying on the edge of the highway due to four-lane work, the DC asked the TMC chief official to clear the choked and encroached drainages using earthmoving machines so that stormwater flows freely.

“Ensure that the water flows naturally. Clear the encroachment without any mercy if the encroached structure is hindering the free flow of water. At Baleguli, water is entering the houses due to encroachment. Clear the encroachment here in another four days. You can quit if you cannot deliver. Life of people and animals is top-most priority for me,” he said taking officials to task.

The DC also appreciated the precautionary steps taken by Tahsildar Vivek Shenvi in checking loss due to flood and heavy rain. He also lauded his move of setting up a helpline number.

Assistant Commissioner Sazid Mulla, Tahsildar Vivek Shenvi and other officials were present.