Jeppu residents in Mangaluru can no longer tolerate the sewer stench

For Kavita Bharath, who lives in a house next to a drain in Jeppu, the stench of sewage in the drain has become unbearable, especially over the last few days with the receding of rain.

“It is difficult for us to eat in this condition. It is unbearable. Authorities know of our problems but have done little to help us,” said Ms. Bharath.

She is one among 30 families, living in Karunakara and Sanjeeva Rai compounds, who have been fighting for over a decade to stop the flow of sewage in the storm-water drain connected to the Gujjarakere.

Another resident Harish Arikere said that they had submitted umpteen petitions . “This is an underground drainage line that goes along the storm-water drain that passes across our compounds. When this line gets blocked, the sewage overflows from the manhole into the drain,” he said.

This underground drainage line carries sewage from Jeppu Market and other connected areas.

Another resident Dinesh C.P. said this perpetual flow of sewage in the storm-water drain has affected the groundwater and made water from the open wells non-potable.

An analysis report, dated October 14, from the Microbial Resources Centre for Marine Biotechnology in the Fisheries College states: “Bacteriologically, the water sample is not of potable quality” as the water sample has “faecal coliform” and “total coliform” counts that far exceeds the required count.

“We are forced to rely on water supplied by the MCC that is irregular,” he added.

Mr. Arikere and Prabha Shankar said that residents were falling sick and some had contracted dengue and malaria.

Instead of repairing the line or laying new lines, authorities have been reportedly connecting sewage lines to upcoming apartments in the area to this underground drainage line.

Deputy Mayor Kavita, who is the councillor from Hoigebazar ward, said that she has been working to resolve the issue. A new underground line has been planned and she hopes to get funds from the Asian Development Bank.

Mangalore South MLA J.R. Lobo said that he would call a meeting of residents of Gujjarakere shortly to try and resolve their problemsand also take steps to develop the old Gujjarakere.