Mangaluru: The Constitution of India guarantees a clean and safe environment as the basic right of every person living in the country and the administration is bound to provide this basic necessity. However, for various reasons, this constitutional guarantee remains a distant dream for many in the city. Come monsoon, the incidents of overflowing sewage have become a common sight in Mangaluru. In such a case being reported from Bejai, the residents are suffering due to the foul smell and polluted environment being caused by the sewage overflow in a private residential area.

An old manhole installed at a private property constantly overflows, spilling human and other waste on to the road. An occupant of the private property said that the MCC officials had not connected the drain to the main sewer line, causing the old manhole to overflow during the monsoon season. The sewage is not only emanating foul odour but also has created a puddle of grey water on the road, creating problems for the visitors to a commercial complex and other commuters on the road.

The residents complain that repeated petitions to the city corporation have not borne fruit. Speaking to NewsKarnataka, a resident at the private property Clita F Prabhu said, “The manhole and drain were laid in our property during the 1960s. As the drainage is old and it is not connected to the main drain, every year during the monsoon we have to face this problem. Though we had brought this issue to the notice of MCC commissioner, MLA and local corporator, none has come forward to resolve the problem.”

She also vented out that MCC should be held responsible for any outbreak of vector-borne diseases caused by the sewage leak.

When NewKarnataka contacted the Mangaluru City Corporation Mayor Bhaskar K for his comments on the issue, he assured to personally visit the spot and direct officials to set right the problem.

Corporator of the area Prakash B Saliyan told NewsKarnataka reporter that the issue had come to his notice. “Along with the MCC commissioner, I have visited the spot for the inspection. As the drain was laid in the 1960s and is not connected to the main drain, the sewage water oozes out of a manhole which is inside a private property. A few days ago we had made temporary arrangements to flow sewage water into the main drain,” he said.

Residents of the area have to wait until the end of the monsoon at least for finding a permanent solution to the problem. Salian said as the manhole was situated within a private property, the MCC would need the consent of the owner. All this could be done, only after the monsoon has ceased, he said.