Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Apr 15: “As many as 5,000 people in Kumpala, Someshwara are devastated due to scarcity of water and are planning to boycott elections. Though the local MLA took up several projects for Kumpala, the BJP did not allow implementing them due to political conspiracy. Residents of Kumpala are struggling for water now,” said district Congress backward class group’s chief secretary Dinesh Kumpala. He was speaking in the news conference held at Ullal block Congress office, Thokottu.

“Summer heat has become intense. The district administration used to form a task force when faced with drinking water issues in the past, sending people representatives and solving them. But the state government which conducts administration is only going after votes. Though Someshwar gram panchayat was upgraded three years ago, the BJP has failed to get work done by them. The municipal council staff with assigned election work cannot be pressed. Kumpala is the capital for Someshwar village with a population of 5,000. A handful of water tankers come here. The contaminated water at Vidyanagar is declared unfit for consumption in laboratories.”

“MLA U T Khader had requested Shantaram Shetty, owner of land at Madyar to provide water from the well. Though he agreed, as there was ample water in the well, the BJP ensured that water is not provided there. Residents of Vidyanagar, Surakshanagar ashraya colony are deciding to boycott elections,” he said.

“Six buses including one KSRTC bus run to Kumpala. But some buses run together without maintaining timings. Two KSRTC buses were provided after the MLA requested the minister of transport. But the private bus owners brought a stay and made only one KSRTC bus run on the route. BJP candidate Sathish Kumpala does not have the moral right to criticize the achievements of MLA U T Khader.

“The project costing Rs 198 crores during the term of Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019 was meant to supply water at Ullal, Kotekar, Someshwar and all the villages in Ullal taluk. A motor with the capacity of 1,300 HP is installed to lift water from the dam. Water will be supplied to Mudipu purification unit with a capacity of 200 lac unit to a distance of 15 kilometres through 960 MS pipeline. The water that will flow through the 711 mm pipeline till Chembugudde mosque will be stored in the tank with the capacity of 60 lac litres. Water will be supplied from there to the remaining villages through tankers. Water will be available to the entire taluk within next 7-8 months,” he said.

Block Congress vice president Suresh Bhattagara, Dhananjay Kolya, Bashir Kolangere, Sumith Kumar Bhatnagar, Prem Kolya, Visham Kasimbettu, Vijay Kille and Purushotham Pilar were present.