The underpass built in front of the DC’s Office — connecting the Court complexes a project costing approximately ₹1.25 crore — has once again turned into a dangerous, waterlogged pit. Instead of serving its intended purpose, the underpass has become a seasonal lake, flooded by rainwater and now attracting schoolchildren who recklessly swim in the stagnant, unhygienic water.
Despite the clear danger, children continue to access the area, evading police warnings and slipping in through the court premises. Shocked by the sight of minors swimming in this filth, the police swiftly issued instructions to the Belagavi Municipal Corporation to barricade the spot and immediately initiate drainage.
Responding to the police directive, municipal workers, under the supervision of Police Inspector M.K. Dhamannavar, cordoned off the area with plastic tape and prohibited public entry. They announced that a pump set would soon be deployed to remove the accumulated water — a basic preventive measure that should have been in place from the beginning.
The underpass, constructed to ease the traffic congestion near the court complex, has ironically remained unusable since its inception. Poor planning and a total lack of drainage infrastructure have reduced this ₹1.25 crore structure to a stagnant swamp.
Authorities now face sharp criticism for their delayed response and neglect. The public demands immediate rectification and long-term solutions to prevent this underpass from becoming a recurring monsoon hazard and playground of peril.