Bantwal: The construction of a bridge-cum-barrage at Jakribettu across the lifeline Nethravathi River, under the Minor Irrigation Department, has been completed at a cost of approximately Rs 135 crore.

Work to fortify the Narikombu stretch with stones to prevent backwater intrusion into private lands is in progress and is expected to be completed within five to six days. Once this is done, gates will be installed to commence water storage, according to department sources.

The project was initiated in November 2022 with the foundation stone laid by the then Minister of Minor Irrigation, J. C. Madhuswamy, in the presence of MLA Rajesh Naik U. While the bridge was completed last year, gate installation began on a trial basis in June 2023. The barrage is now set to store water on a full scale.

The collected water is expected to alleviate drinking water shortages in Mangaluru city and Bantwal Town Municipality areas during the upcoming summer. Additionally, it will benefit riverside agricultural lands and enhance groundwater levels in surrounding areas.

Key Details:

• Storage Capacity: The barrage can store up to 166 MCFT of water, creating backwaters up to 5 km.
• Structure: The bridge-cum-barrage is 351.25 m long and 5.50 m high. It has 21 bays, each equipped with 12 m wide vertical lift gates and two square sluice gates at the center for releasing water during floods.
• Sand Management: The design allows for easy removal of accumulated sand from the bottom.
• Connectivity: The bridge has a width of 7.50 m, facilitating vehicular movement, benefiting Bantwal town and several nearby villages.

Pending Road Connections:

The bridge is located near the Punjalkatte-B.C. Road Highway and connects Narikombu and Pulikukku areas. However, additional approach roads on both sides are yet to be completed. While a 50-meter stretch on the Jakribettu side and a 100-meter stretch on the Narikombu side are planned, land acquisition is complete on the Narikombu side. On the Jakribettu side, efforts are being made to develop the road near the municipal jackwell for direct connectivity.

Progress Update:

The ongoing riverbank reinforcement work is expected to be completed within five to six days, following which gate installation will begin. Connectivity-related work on the Narikombu side is almost done, while efforts to upgrade the existing road on the Jakribettu side are underway.

“Riverbank reinforcement will be completed within a few days, and we will proceed with gate installation. On the connectivity front, most work on the Narikombu side is finished, and we are focusing on improving the existing road at Jakribettu,” said Shivaprasanna, Assistant Engineer, Minor Irrigation Department, Dakshina Kannada.