Bhatkal’s Sarabi River to Get Major Cleanup Starting January
State allocates ₹10 crore for restoration project; work expected to finish by March
The long-awaited cleaning of Bhatkal’s Sarabi river will finally begin in January 2025, with completion targeted for March. Senior officials from the Irrigation Department confirmed the timeline after inspecting the historic waterway on Thursday.
Anand Kumar, Superintendent Engineer of the Irrigation Department in Bengaluru, led a team of officials from Karwar on a detailed site visit. They examined key sections of the river at Ghausiya Street and Daranta, meeting with local leaders and residents to understand community concerns.
The Karnataka government has approved ₹10 crore for the ambitious restoration project. The cleanup will cover a 1.9-kilometer stretch, starting from the Kudrebiraapa Temple area in Chautani and extending to Dongar Palli.
What the Project Includes
The comprehensive cleanup operation will focus on several key activities. Workers will remove large amounts of mud and sludge that have accumulated over the years. The riverbed will be deepened to three meters to improve water flow. Additionally, overgrown thorny bushes and debris will be cleared from the entire stretch.
During Thursday’s meeting with municipal authorities, Anand Kumar discussed project details with former councillors Qaiser Mohtisham and Fayaz Mulla, along with former TMC in-charge president Altaf Kharuri and Municipal Chief Officer Venkatesh Nauda.
The Sarabi river holds special significance for Bhatkal residents. It originates from Chautani and winds through several neighborhoods including Shazli Street, Ghausiya Street, Mushma Street, Khalifa Street, and Daranta before reaching Dongar Palli and flowing into the Arabian Sea.
Older residents remember when the river had clean, flowing water where people would swim and relax. However, conditions have deteriorated sharply in recent years. The situation worsened after an underground drainage pumping station was set up at Ghausiya Street, which has repeatedly released sewage into the river, transforming it into what many now describe as an open drain.
Fed up with the declining conditions, local residents took action by forming the Sarabi River Horata Samithi. This committee includes representatives from multiple sports centers and community organizations, such as Cosmos, Sunshine, Moon Star, Lion, Royal, and Sultani Welfare Association.
Working under the guidance of Majlis-e-Islah-o-Tanzeem, one of the district’s prominent social organizations, the committee launched an active campaign demanding immediate cleanup measures. They organized public protests several months ago to draw attention to the issue.
The group’s efforts paid off when they met with Bhatkal MLA and District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya. After receiving their memorandum, the minister successfully lobbied the state government to release the ₹10 crore funding for the project.
Community leaders present during Thursday’s inspection included Inayatullah Shabandri, president of Majlis-e-Islah-o-Tanzeem, general secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ Nadvi, Advocate Imran Lanka, and Maulavi Temoor Gawai, along with several other local representatives.
With funding secured and work scheduled to begin soon, residents are hopeful that the Sarabi river will be restored to its former condition, once again becoming a clean waterway for the community.
