Yahya Hallare

Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (SP)

Bhatkal, May 13: Blistering sun has been sapping the energy of the people of the town and surrounding areas. Most of the ponds and wells have dried up. In many places, drinking water supply, which was dependent on wells, has been stopped. People can be seen making beeline to roads with pitchers in hand for collecting water from tankers.

Kadavinakatte rivulet, on which the town, Jali and many important regions in the taluk depended upon for water, has failed to sustain water. A visit to the rivulet only reveals silt accumulated at its bottom. Chouthani rivulet too is sans water, creating problems for washermen who were dependent on it. If it does not rain heavily for eight to ten days more, the situation is sure to turn critical.

Water supply through taps has been stopped to Havalikanta, Nastara and Mogerkeri in Mundalli as its source of water, a well, has become dry. People of these areas have now started to await supply through tankers. However, because of high demand from everywhere, taluk administration has been struggling even to provide five pitchers of water to each household per day. With the delayed rainfall, officials are becoming allergic towards attending office as they are bothered whole day by unending water woes.

Water problem has been very acute in Sasihithlu in Bengre and National Colony, Murudeshwar and nearby areas. Areca and coconut trees in rural places like Marukery and Kitre have withered. Progress of a number of works have hit roadblock in the form of water shortage.

Bhatkal taluk has been fondly known with the title, 'Cherrapunji of rainy season' in Uttara Kannada district. The people here are used to be heavily dependent on rainfall. Unless proper plans are drawn up now and executed in time to collect rainwater for future use, clear signs of the future becoming bleak are becoming evident everywhere.

Tahsildar of the taluk, V N Badkar, confesses that water scarcity might aggravate if it does not rain within a week from now. "We have been trying our best to tackle drought. We have taken in initiative to identify wells belonging to individuals, pump water from these wells and supply the same to the people," he says.