Udupi (The Hindu): Assistant Commissioner Shilpa Nag on Thursday directed the contractors widening National Highway 66 to repair all the damaged parts in Udupi district, including the Othinane stretch that was recently affected by heavy rainfall, within a proper time frame.

Chairing a meeting on dealing with the damaged stretches on NH 66 in Udupi district, Ms. Nag said the district administration has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the contractors — IRB, RV Construction, and Navayuga companies — to gear up for the monsoon.

She said the people in Kundapur-Byndoor region were facing a lot of hardship owing to the haphazard nature of the road widening works. She also showed photographs and video clippings of landslips near Adiudupi.

She pointed out that traffic was held up for nearly five hours at Othinane owing to a landslip on June 7, and people were troubled because of the lack of alternative roads.

An NHAI officer explained that the land around the hillock, where the landslip occurred, belonged to the Forest Department. Hence, the authority could not construct a drain by the side of NH 66 to allow the flow of water and soil from the hillock.

The design of the road on the Othinane stretch was drawn up in 2012. But the widening work started only in 2016. Owing to constant flow of water, the soil had become loose, the officer said.

Ms. Nag said the loose soil had entered the fields of farmers and destroyed crops. The house of a woman named Parvati too was damaged, she said. The Deputy Commissioner has already directed the contractor to pay for the losses.

Ms. Nag directed the officials to take steps to prevent landslips along the Othinane stretch in the future. “If there is any landslip, the local officers should immediately inform the police and the tahsildar, or me,” she said.

She directed the officials concerned to fill the potholes on Jogur, Muddodi and Henberu roads, which were being used as alternative roads to Othinane.

Land valuation

There have been complaints of discrimination in provision of compensation for land acquisition in Padubidri. Hence, the Public Works Department should do land valuation once again and compensation will be paid based on this valuation, she said.

Ms. Nag also directed officials to undertake quick repairs on the road from Adiudupi to Kollur in light of President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the district on June 18.