Mangaluru: Century-old well discovered at Hampanakatte

Team Udayavani, Sep 18, 2020, 11:53 AM IST

Mangaluru: A huge well that is almost a century old has been discovered in the city’s Hampanakatte area.

The well was found near the rickshaw parking near Hampanakatte signal. Road excavation work under the Smart City project has been going on for some days here. During the excavation, a concrete slab appeared. When the slab was lifted, a deep well was discovered.

According to locals, there is a story that a century ago Appanna, a native of Hampanakatte, would sit on a wooden pallet and provide water to thirsty travellers coming to Mangaluru. He is said to have brought the water for the travellers from the well. Hence the area got the name ‘Appanna katte’ (Appanna’s circle) which later became ‘Hampanakatte.’

The locals also state that municipal water supply began in 1962. It was then decided by the local government to close the well for road development works. The locals then protested. As a result, concrete slabs were placed on the well. Later the road was concretised making any traces of the well disappear until the digging of the road a few days ago.

Speaking to Udayavani Sudina, Dhananjay Palke, owner of Canara Jewelers at Hampanakatte said that the well was in front of our shop many years ago. We used to use the well’s water. The well is almost 100 feet deep. There was also a ‘katte’ (fenced circle) around the well. The well was closed due to development works. My father the Palke Baburaya Acharya had put the slab over the well. . The water in the well is still good and the well must be preserved for the future generations.

Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, president of the Dakshina Kannada District Hotel Owners Association stated that I remember there was a well in front of our hotel in Hampankatta many years ago. I have also heard from my elders that Appanna was providing water from the well to the thirsty. When the municipal water supply started, the well was closed and road developed over it. Now that the well has been discovered, it needs to be saved.

Mohammed Nazir, Managing Director, Mangaluru Smart City Limited said that junction development work has been going on for some days in Hampankatta. At that time a well was found. This well is very old, as the locals say. We have stopped work there for a while. In order to save the well, the project will be discussed with the concerned Departmental Officers, including the local administration.

A few months ago too a well from the British-era was found at Bolar junction near Marigudi.