MLA H.R. Gaviyappa visited the Basavanna Canal area near the Three Shop Circle in Hospet, where he conducted an inspection and assessed the cleanliness. He instructed the concerned authorities to take swift action to tackle the pollution and garbage issue in the canal. During his visit, he engaged with local residents and business owners, urging them to join hands in the canal’s cleaning efforts. H.R. Gaviyappa, MLA of the Vijayanagara Constituency, emphasized the need for collective efforts in maintaining a clean environment.
Over 10,000 liquor bottles were discovered near Moorangadi Circle in the Basava canal, running through the city’s center. Despite the removal of significant silt deposits, the canal’s water flow remains obstructed, posing serious issues.
For three days, water from the canal spilled onto the road near Ramakrishna Lodge, causing major inconvenience for residents. Following a report by Prajavani, authorities halted the canal flow, and an overnight silt removal operation was launched on Wednesday, leading to the unexpected find of numerous bottles.
A culvert with an iron cover was constructed about 20 years ago, extending 30 meters under the road to facilitate water flow. However, rust and decay have damaged the structure, and heavy silt accumulation has worsened the issue. At the Ramakrishna Lodge section, where the canal narrows like a bottleneck, water overflows onto the road instead of moving smoothly.
MLA H.R. Gaviyappa has initiated efforts to address the issue. He arranged two pumps at his own cost, and after draining the water, coordinated with the fire brigade, irrigation, and district authorities to remove silt from the canal tube. JESCOM staff also joined the effort. The work is expected to take 2-3 days.
Lack of Maintenance for 20 Years: The canal section under the Moorangadi roundabout hasn’t been maintained in two decades. Aside from occasional garbage and silt removal at the canal’s bottleneck, no major upkeep has been performed, contributing to the current issues.
Irrigation Department Engineer Basappa Jankar and his team are working around the clock to restore smooth water flow in the canal.