MANGALORE : Ullal is once again in the grips of acute sea erosion, with the problem however increasing in magnitude this year when compared to the previous years.
Giant tidal waves continue to lash Kadapuram in Ullal, leaving as many as 40 houses badly damaged. Already several of the occupants have shifted to their relative’s house unable to live in constant fear in their own houses.
On the other hand, residents of Kaiko near Mukkacheri have already spent two days in darkness in the absence of electricity facility. The wells in the vicinity have been rendered useless and have turned saline. Already buildings of two masjids in the area have been damaged by the seas
Sharief, a local youth says the Muslim brethren in the area are worried as they cannot go to the masjid to offer their Friday prayers. Even the madrasa children are suffering after the damage caused to the madras building, he says.
Concrete roads near the Al Masjid here have developed cracks due to the impact of the tidal waves. Locals express anguish over the authorities for failing to respond to this grave problem over the years.
Mohammad Ismail, a labourer who lives in a crumbled home says politicians just come and go, while the poor are left to endure with the problem.
The locals also have another grouse, that the government is providing very little compensation to the affected people. If we spend thousands to repair our house what we get is a few paltry hundreds, says Abdul Azeez.
Though sea erosion is not a new problem in Ullal, the sea had not been as rough as it was this time, say locals. Though, the government has failed to do anything much, politicians continue to make a beeline to the area just for the sake of publicity, locals complain.
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