Mangalore: 'Thumbay Vented Dam to be Ready by 2013'
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Feb 21: "The new Thumbay vented dam, 7-meter in height, which would have storage capacity of 14.75 million cubic meters with electric gates (unlike manual gates in the present dam) with 134 piers is being built at a total cost of Rs 80 crore," said L N Anand, executive chief engineer, Karnataka urban water supply and drainage board on Tuesday February 21.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 'Gangapuja' for Thumbay vented dam here.
"In all, Rs 9 crore has been spent on the project already and the corporation readily agreed to avail further a Rs 3 crore," he said.
The contract of this project has been given to Hyderabad-based M S Hrithwik & Swapna Construction company. The new vented dam is likely to supply drinking water to places like Haleyangady, Mala, Moodushedde, Mulky, Saripalla, Neermarga, Thellar, among others. The inspection work is being carried out by Indian Register of Shipping Agency. The project could be completed by 2013, he informed.
After the Gangapuja held at Thumbay dam, mayor Praveen said that it would be good if the water is available till July.
Deputy mayor Geetha Nayak said that worshipping the water/ river is a culture of this land, hence every year as a custom gangapooja is held at Thumbay to offer thanks to the nature for giving water to the people of Mangalore. Opposition leader Lancelot Pinto said that in his 28 years experience in Mangalore city corporation, he came to know value of water when people suffered from its scarcity.
Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde said that though the area which comes under the limits of Mangalore city corporation has been increased, there was no scarcity of water supply.
MCC Commissioner Harish Kumar, formers mayor Ashraf, Rajani Dugganna among others were present.
Problem of labour
Later, speaking to reporters, L N Anand said that the construction of the new vented dam is facing road blocks because of problem of labour. The labourers hail from different places across the country, including north Karnataka and north India, and are irregular in reporting to duty, which in turn has effected the pace of the work, he said.