Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Apr 25: Urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake on Monday April  25 appealed to the people of Mangaluru and the district to use drinking water judiciously as the water levels in the Thumbay and AMR dams have dipped. 

Addressing media persons at the Circuit House here on Monday April 25, after inspecting Thumbay and AMR dams, he said, "The water levels in the dams supplying drinking water in the city have come down considerably.  

"Now the water level stands at 7.9 feet in the Thumbay dam and in AMR dam the level is 4.6 meters. MRPL and other industries directly lift water from AMR dam. Mangaluru requires 100 MLD water everyday but now about 160 MLD water is being lifted which includes 40 MLD for industries and 20 MLD for panchayat areas," he said.

"MLA J R Lobo and mayor have conducted an emergency meeting with officials to list out water sources in the city. About 66 tankers have been reserved to supply water. All necessary measures are taken to deal with the current crisis. First priority is given to drinking water. Grants will be released to MCC to solve drinking water crisis," he added.

Mangaluru south MLA J R Lobo said, "Water supply to industries will be completely cut down until the monsoon. In the last meeting with district in-charge minister, officials misguided us about the available water levels. Emergency contingency plan is being prepared to deal with the crisis. If water completely dries in the dams, we have precautionary plans in place. Borewell, wells and other water sources are being identified so that water can be supplied through tankers if the dams completely dry up. For this purpose, about 66 tankers are reserved, that is one for each ward plus six reserve tankers.

"As of now, the government has set up a task force committee and about Rs 1.40 crore each has been given to Mangaluru south and north constituencies. An inquiry will be done by the mayor against the officials who have given wrong information," Lobo said. 

Mayor Harinath, Mangaluru north MLA Mohiuddin Bava and others were present.

DC must bring all water sources, tankers under his charge: MLC Ivan

Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Apr 25: MLC Ivan D'Souza urged the deputy commissioner to take private borewells and their sources along with other private resources supplying water to the city under his charge as the availability of drinking water in the Thumbay dam has decreased to the minimum level.

Addressing media persons in his office here on Monday April 25, he said, "The water level in Thumbay dam has reached the minimum level and water is being supplied on alternative days to the households in the city.

"Wherever the pressure is low, water is supplied though tankers by the MCC. But as there are only four MCC tankers, the private tankers are supplying the drinking water. Since the situation has worsened, I urge the deputy commissioner to take the private tankers in his charge along with their water sources and supply water for people in the city.

"There is a slit of four-and-a-half feet in Thumbay dam and as of today, water level stands at 7.5 feet. I urge the department of irrigation to fix the slit as soon possible," he said.

"I urge the public not to use drinking water for gardening and use it judiciously," he added.

The MLC further said, "Rs 1.40 crore has been sanctioned for the urban municipal bodies in the district and every constituency has been sanctioned Rs 50 lac to solve the drinking water issues by the chief minister. Enough funds have already been sanctioned to all the districts."

Death of an elderly person at Kadaba due to sunstroke

Quoting a newspaper report, Ivan said, "It has been reported that an elderly person lost his life due to sunstroke while walking on the street. I have told the deputy commissioner to announce compensation for the person's family under the natural calamity fund if the report is true. The deputy commissioner has said that he will take the required action after receiving detailed report from the officials concerned."

"Centre launching new projects only for publicity"

Criticizing the union government, he said that the union government has been launching new projects only for 'publicity'. "There is no long-term vision for the projects. They are also comparing the achievements of the state and the union government and even those of the previous governments. This is an unhealthy comparison in democracy."

Compensation from chief minister’s relief fund

He also handed over cheques sanctioned for the treatment of seven persons from the chief minister’s relief fund worth 2.8 lac on the occasion.

Interim president of district Congress committee Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present.