The boon enjoyed by the Harangi basin is now leading to apprehension.

Madikeri, May 29: A Rs. 130 crore project, which was supposed to be implemented to prevent floods and landslides in the Harangi reservoir basin, is turning into a curse for many residents due to the incomplete work.

This Rs. 130 crore project, which was supposed to be implemented in the Hattihole and Mukkodlu areas, is not being completed even though the monsoon season is approaching, so the incomplete work is inviting accidents.

During the natural calamities that occurred in 2018 and 2019, several areas in the Harangi reservoir basin were damaged by massive landslides and floods. Several farms were destroyed due to the collapse of the embankment in Hattihole, Madapura, Thantipal, Mukkodlu and surrounding areas. This incident resulted in the loss of human lives and property on a huge scale.

Later, a coffee farmer filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court, demanding scientific management of water in the Harangi reservoir and a plan to strengthen the reservoir’s catchment areas. 

Similarly, Rs. 130 crore was sanctioned for the desilting of the Harangi reservoir and the construction of retaining walls, gabion walls and check dams in the catchment areas.

The work on this project began in 2023 and more than 100 trees that stood as natural barriers in the catchment areas were razed to make way for the construction of gabion walls.

But the project is progressing slowly and in several areas, meshed gabion walls are falling before their completion. Ironically, even this work has not been done despite the allocation of around Rs. 30 crore for the desilting process across the reservoir.

The bridge near Thantipal has been damaged due to shoddy work and unscientific filling of stones and soil under the bridge, locals have alleged.

“The aim of this project is to strengthen the banks of the Hattihole and Nandimotte rivers that join the Harangi. But the unscientific work has increased the chances of landslides.

Locals have alleged that the river’s waterway has also become shorter due to this work.

If there is continuous rain during this monsoon season, it will be a danger to the residents here.

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