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Udupi, August 3: Landslide disasters have been happening in the Western Ghats and its foothills for the past few years. Dr. Udaya Shankar, a senior geologist from Manipal, expressed concern that the main reason for this is the increasing number of machine attacks on the Western Ghats in the name of development.

He was speaking at a discussion program on artificial flood situation - Fire Tragedy- Landslide organized at Udupi Press Bhavan in collaboration with Udupi Press Bhavan Committee under the auspices of Udupi District Working Journalists Association.

In the Western Ghats, this is the highest rainfall region, today rain water seeps into the soil very easily due to the destruction of trees. This water, which has gone inside abundantly, must come out.

There are many faults in the structure of the Western Ghats. If there is an impulse in that place, there is a high possibility of earthquake. Such situation increases when this rain water goes inside as ground water. During the recent rainy season, the sound of splashes heard in the Western Ghats is disturbing. Groundwater falling directly on it also gives pressure. Then tragedies like what happened in Wayanad will happen, he said.

Tragedies like the one at Ankola Shiruru happen as a result of digging hills to build a national highway without studying the structure of the earth. Rock on Earth is very hard. The bottom layer is only clay soil. This is a lot of risk. Manipal is also unscientifically quarried. Man-made landslides need to be prevented. For that, the government should implement legal rules for drilling land, he said.

The whole is a hot spot with very sensitive biological organisms. It is not appropriate to do such a thing in an area with such biodiversity. In such sensitive areas, the underground water tunnel will come when the tunnel is dug once.At Someshwara stream is formed below. A stream will exist until the water runs out, and when that water runs out, the Bali biodiversity will be destroyed. Only the tunnel remains there. Biodiversity will be destroyed, he said.

Udupi Municipal Council Commissioner Rayappa said that as a result of constructing a building by closing the ditch through which the rainwater flows easily in the city, this time, an artificial flood has been created in the environment of Gundibailu. He said that in the last 15 years, this year it has rained the most and no loss of life has occurred as a result of taking precautionary measures. Udupi is a growing city, and if it is to remain organized in the future, a building should be constructed by arranging a ditch to drain the rain water. He said that only in this way it will be possible to protect the city of Udupi from artificial flood situation.

Vinayak U. Kalgutakara, Udupi District Officer of Fire Fighting and Emergency Services Department, said that this year, 340 calls related to accidents and 92 rescue calls have been received in Udupi district. He informed that this year there has been more than usual rains and the flooding has occurred and a total of 181 people have been rescued by our staff.

For every 50 thousand population or 40 km., there should be a fire station. We don’t have that many fire stations. So it is very important for everyone to know about fire prevention and protection. This can minimize the damage. Fire accidents are caused by negligence. The response time for fire incidents is only three minutes. He said that if there is no response within it, there may be a lot of damage to life and property.

Association President Rajesh Shetty Alevoor presided. State committee member of the association Kiran Manjanbailu, Treasurer Umesh Marpalli were present on the dais. Nazir Polya, general secretary of the association, gave an introductory speech and welcomed the gathering. Ajith Aradi, Convener of the Press Bhawan Committee, delivered the vote of thanks. Journalist Deepak Jain compared  the program.