Mangaluru: Health and family welfare minister UT Khader criticised the NHAI for substandard work at several junctions and said road users deserve better maintenance. Citing public inconvenience due to persistent waterlogging and lack of service roads at Nanthoor, Pumpwell and Thokkottu, he directed officials to coordinate with other departments and civic bodies to resolve issues at Thokkottu.Zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari raised concern over stagnant water at a highway construction site in Uppinangady, saying it has become a mosquito breeding ground near an anganwadi centre and a school. He said the issue remains unresolved despite multiple requests.NHAI officials said the authority faces difficulties executing service road works due to a lack of coordination among Mescom, PWD and other departments.The minister directed the NHAI project director and the ZP CEO to jointly visit the site and resolve the issue at the earliest. He said there is no shortage of funds to tackle rain-related damage in the district.Deficit rainfallThe district has Rs 3.7 crore available under the taluk disaster management fund. DC Darshan HV said the district recorded a 32% deficit in rainfall during the pre-monsoon period and a 41% deficit from Jan till date.Joint director of agriculture Honnappa Gowda said sowing and paddy transplantation were affected due to deficient rainfall in June. MLA Bhagirathi Murulya and MLC Kishore Kumar raised the issue of faulty rain gauges, saying farmers failed to claim crop insurance benefits for last year’s losses. The DC said defective gauges are being replaced.The DC said notices have been issued under the Disaster Management Act in connection with landslides caused by unauthorised hill cutting. An FIR has been registered against the owner in the Nagori wall collapse incident.18 Hepatitis A casesDHO Dr HR Thimmaiah said 18 people tested positive for Hepatitis A in Dongerkery. Water samples have been collected, and a report is awaited.The minister handed over appreciation letters under the Good Samaritan law to those who helped families during the compound wall collapse in Nagori that claimed three lives. Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath and MLC Ivan D’Souza were present.
