Incessant rainfall in Kodagu: KRS reservoir level to rise shortly
Following incessant downpour all over Kodagu in the past three days, plying of traffic between Bhagamandala and Talacauvery, the pilgrim places visited by devotees and tourists in large numbers, has been restricted for a period of 15 days, anticipating natural disasters like landslides and rolling down of stone boulders.
The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tewari, who conducted an inspection of the rain-battered regions in the northern parts of Kodagu, yesterday.
Speaking to press persons while inspecting the clearance of large stone boulders that had rolled on to the Bhagamandala-Talacauvery road, the DC said that the plying of traffic had to be restricted as rains were likely to intensify in the coming days and the movement of traffic might cause sliding of loose earth and rolling down of more stone boulders, posing perils to the visitors to the holy place.
“Though alternative transport arrangements will be made for the villagers of Bhagamndala and its surroundings, traffic movement along the Bhagamandala-Talacauvery road will be restored only after consulting with the PWD and Mines and Geology Department.
Tewari, very upset with the washing of vehicles in the water-logged Triveni Sangama area (the confluence of Cauvery, Kannike and Sujyothi rivers), urged the tourists not to pollute the area. He also directed the officials accompanying him not to allow such activities that cause pollution and mar the sanctity of the place.
Replying to a query about the declaration of holidays to educational institutions in case of heavy downpour, the DC said that school holidays will be declared based on the reports submitted by the heads of respective institutions and the Block Education Officers will be bestowed with discretionary powers.
Following an incident of landslide caused by earth-moving work undertaken by an excavator in Monnangeri village of Madikeri taluk, the DC has prohibited the use of excavators and other such earth-moving equipment in the region for a period of three months, that is, till the monsoon is over.
Assistant Commissioner Abhiram G. Shankar, speaking on the occasion, said that people living too close to the banks of river Cauvery, especially in Karadigodu, Guhya and Siddapura villages, have been instructed to shift to safer places.
Superintendent of Police M.N. Anuchet, addressing the press persons, said that Police patrolling is in place along the road from Madikeri town to Sampaje (further leading to Mangalore) to ensure that road blocks are cleared in time in case of landslides.
Kodagu ZP President S.N. Rajarao, speaking on the occasion, urged the District Administration to provide a flyover bridge between road leading from Bhagamandala town to Madikeri as it gets submerged under water every year during monsoon.
Following a complaint from the villagers of Bhagamandala, the DC said that the boats provided by the District Administration are exclusively for the transportation of localites and not for tourists.
