Unkal lake
Mallikarjun Gundur, Corporator, Ward 35, and Vijaykumar R, HDMC DC (development), were unavailable for comment. Because of the officials’ mistake, we are suffering a lot” they rued. They also suspect contamination of L&T drinking water pipelines, saying the drainage flow increases whenever water supply is released. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Businessmen Sudhir Patil and Raju Jain also asserted that when they approached HDMC, officials said that the drainage was planned to the main drainage line that was set on the Dharwad-Hubballi roadside. Manjunath Ilakal, another resident, said that this water is directly linked to Unkal lake and polluting lake water too. A shepherd grazing sheep nearby said that the drainage has been covered with a large pipeline to keep it out of sight of lake visitors. “However, bad smelling is distracting visitors at Bhairidevarkoppa side in lake premises” he said.
Hubballi : Residents of Renuka Nagar in Bhairidevarkoppa have alleged that drainage water continues to enter Unkal Lake despite HDMC’s claims of stopping all inflows. The foul-smelling water and mosquito menace have prompted complaints to HDMC. “They admitted that since the main drainage line was at higher level, and the Renuka Nagar drainage laid on lower level, they could not connect it to the main line. The residents also suspect that water from the L&T pipeline is mixing with the drainage. They claimed that the flow pressure increases whenever drinking water is supplied and that the drainage often overflows onto the road, inconveniencing motorists and pedestrians. They further alleged that the poor sanitation conditions have affected employment opportunities for labourers in nearby small-scale industries. “Following the bad smell of this drainage water, visitors are hesitating to walk around the lake. As we approach, HDMC officials often say that a sewage treatment park (STP) is being constructed at corporation garden and once its construction is over, the drainage will be linked to STP. However, the construction is on for over a year” they lamented. Download the TOI App.
Satish Togarsi, an industrialist, told TOI that the water is flowing with much pressure 24×7. “Don’t know when we will get 24×7 drinking water but Unkal lake is getting drainage water day and night. Apart from flowing, water is smelling badly and causing a heavy number of mosquitoes in the area” he alleged.