Karkala: Hurt rickshaw driver plants banana saplings in potholes

Karkala: An autorickshaw driver in Karkala employed a unique method to attract attention towards the bad state of roads and streets in the town.

The road leading to Mangaluru near the tri-junction has been badly damaged with large potholes visible everywhere. Hurt by the inaction of the authorities in repairing the road, an unnamed rickshaw driver has planted banana saplings in the water-filled potholes as a sign of protest.

The locals say that the major road, connecting the town to Mangaluru, was damaged during the drainage work that was done. Since then, the town officials have only temporarily patched up the road. This temporary fix was ineffective and the road is filled with huge potholes. The pedestrians, as well as motorists, are facing hardship. The situation is so bad that the shops on the side of these roads have closed for business, the locals complain.

The public is angry that the bureaucrats and public officials have not taken action despite the MLA from the constituency being a minister in the state government.

In the past, the opposition had planted saplings of ladyfingers. But, it did not yield any result.

When will the town administration’s eyes open to people’s plight? is the million-dollar question, the locals lament.