Mangalore: MCC Removes Illegal Water Connection in Adyar

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore(RS/CN)

Mangalore, Jan 21: An illegal connection to the pipeline supplying water to the city, was removed on Tuesday January 20 at Adyar, amidst protests by citizens.

Deputy commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj arrived on the spot to resolve the issue and asked the people to take legal water connections by paying tax through the gram panchayat.

People of Adyar demanded that the water connection be kept as it is as they had no other source of drinking water.

The illegal connection was given to the main pipeline which supplies water to the city from Thumbe Dam.   

When Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) officials visited the spot to disconnect the illegal connection the citizens did not allow them to do their work and finally Sameer Shukla, MCC commissioner, had to ask the DC to step in.

Shukla stated that the main  reason  for  the shortage of water in the city were illegal  connections  to the main  pipeline which carries 18 MGD water to the city from Thumbe Dam. The illegal water connection was used not just for consumption but also for irrigation purposes, he said. 

The illegal connection supplied water without interruption to more than 200 houses. So, the people do not want to lose it, said an official from the MCC.

Three years ago the MCC had conducted a similar operation disconnecting illegal connections under the leadership of mayor Ashraf. But the operation was not a success. Now, the MCC has no option but to disconnect illegal connections to maintain the city’s water supply for another two days.