Pics: Kishore Peraje

Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, May 17: River Netravati, which is sans water now, has turned into cricket ground for sports enthusiasts.

Near Netravati bridge at Panemangalore, water level has completely gone down, exposing a big stretch of sand. A group of youngsters have turned this dry stretch into a cricket ground. Every evening this team or some other teams are found playing cricket at this stretch.

Since the last about 45 days, River Netravati has parched, creating a worrying situation all over the district. People of Mangaluru have been hankering for water as a result. Farmers near the river, commercial users, and construction industry etc have been barred from using water, and the river water has been restricted to drinking purposes alone.

As work on the new dam at Thumbay is progressing, since some time, water was being collected at AMR Dam, Shambhoor, from where water was being released to Thumbay dam as and when required. There is no water in Shambhoor dam now, and the water level at Thumbay dam has gone down to 3.9 feet, and the city faces risk of being denied water supply through taps unless heavy rains appear. All through the length and breadth of River Netravati, boulders and sand on the riverbed can alone be seen now.

Near Panemangalore bridge, people are able now to cross the river on their feet, without depending on the bridge.