Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 17: The district administration has ordered release of some water from the dam at Nekkilady that supplies water to Puttur, to augment water level in Thumbe dam. This is expected to improve water supply position in the city.

A decision to this affect was taken at a meeting held on Monday at the Circuit House here, which was presided over by district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai. Accordingly, deputy commissioner of the district, A B Ibrahim, ordered release of water by opening two sluice gates of the said dam till the evening of May 17.

As Subrahmanya and nearby places are getting good rains since some days, water flow in River Kumaradhara has improved. On Monday evening, water was seen overflowing at the Nekkilady dam near Uppinangady. The deputy commissioner instructed the officials to open two out of six gates of the dam to allow water to flow towards Thumbe dam, and close the gates on Tuesday evening without fail.

Before passing this order, the deputy commissioner questioned the city corporation officials whether the water so released would reach Thumbe. He pointed out that in the past, water released from Disha dam at the request of corporation officials had failed to reach Thumbe dam.

The officials said that catchment areas of the river have got some rain, and Mescom officials have severed power supply to a number of pump sets which were drawing water from the river on the way. They said that the water is likely to flow freely as pits in the river are now filled with water. They also stated the distance between these two dams is 26 km. The deputy commissioner, who was convinced with this clarification, agreed to order release of water.

Puttur municipal commissioner, who was present at the meeting, said that six wards in her town are getting water through tankers whereas the other 27 wards are being provided water from the Uppinangady dam.

Mangaluru: Water sources available but no tankers, say corporators

Mangaluru, May 17: Till a few days back, there were frantic demands and protests seeking drinking water. However, now water sources have been identified but acute shortage of tankers has been hampering supply system, rue city corporators.

As per the statistics, 19 vehicles have been fully engaged in supplying water to the general public. But it is learnt that only two tankers are available, with the remaining eight to ten vehicles having been provided by contractors, organizations etc.

Because of shortfall of vehicles, several corporators say they have been unable to meet water requirements within colonies in their wards. The corporators have been standing near tubewells, wells, pump houses etc to ensure water supply in their wards. One of the corporators, Ayaaz, explains that officials have been dithering from their responsibility by citing one excuse or the other when approached with request for tankers. He says that efforts being made by corporators to provide water to citizens is badly hit because of shortage of tankers.

Several city corporators are angry at the city corporation that is hesitant in the matter of providing tankers for water supply. They have demanded for release of funds from emergency fund to get tankers and meet water needs of the citizens.