The concrete road leading to Moodu Maravanthe had got damaged at the junction with the main road in Maravanthe village, Byndoor taluk, Udupi district.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
When the damaged portion at the junction of two main roads leading to Maravanthe village remained unattended for months, a few youth of teamed up to address the issue. They poured concrete on the affected stretch to facilitate a smooth ride for motorists.
A few youth teamed up to restore the battered stretch of a concrete road at Maravanthe village in Byndoor taluk of Udupi district, on October 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The concrete road from National Highway 66 connecting Moodu Maravanthe had been badly damaged at the junction with Maravanthe Main Road near the madaga (rainwater pond).
Residents alleged that a crater was formed due to the unscientific execution of the concrete road work without providing for a culvert at the junction for the smooth flow of rainwater.
Maravanthe resident Mohan Hebbar said many bicycle riders, motorcycle riders and autorickshaw passengers met with accidents at this spot because of the deep crater. Even school bus drivers used to face difficulties, he said.
When the issue remained unattended for months, a few youth from the village — Jagadish Mogaveera, Shankar Mogaveera, Aditya Devadiga, Prasanna Poojary and Nithin Poojary — procured concrete and poured the same to close the crater on October 6.
Mohan Hebbar commended the youth for their work instead of waiting for the gram panchayat to do the work.
Panchayat’s work
A former president of Maravanthe Gram Panchayat said the GP should have addressed the issue, at least out of the property taxes collected from the village. People were complaining that the panchayat cites non-availability of funds whenever they approach it to get some work done.
Panchayat President Lokesh Kharvi told The Hindu that the GP facilitated provision of the concrete to the youth through some construction agency. Otherwise, GP had to spend about ₹10,000 for the repair, which was not readily available. He appreciated the youth for volunteering to do the work.
While the panchayat receives funds from the government of Karnataka, the tax demand of about ₹9.5 lakh a year was enough for routine maintenance. In addition, the State Government makes the panchayat pay for several of its initiatives, including the recent Human Chain for International Day of Democracy, Koosina Mane, and library, thereby leaving little with the local body for routine maintenance or development work, he claimed.
Published – October 08, 2024 04:41 pm IST