Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Mar 26: Despite efforts to replenish water levels by pumping from the Harekala dam, the Thumbay vented dam, a vital water source for the city, has experienced a steady decline over the past week. On Friday, the dam recorded a water level of 5.69 meters, which further decreased to 5.56 meters by Monday.

To combat this decline, water has been consistently pumped from the lower section of the dam for the past week, with a daily supply of 155-160 million litres per day (MLD) to the city.

However, multiple factors contribute to the diminishing water levels. Harsh summer heat has led to increased evaporation, while unauthorized usage for local farming in Thumbay and the accumulation of silt and sand in the tank further exacerbate the issue.

Similarly, the AMR dam, serving as a backup for Thumbay, has also experienced a reduction in water levels. From a level of 17.98 meters on March 20, it decreased to 17.90 meters by March 22, and further dropped to 17.74 meters by Monday.

The diminishing water levels raise concerns about potential disruptions to industrial water supply in the city. Currently, industries receive 18 million gallons per day (MGD) out of the total supply, with two MGD supplied from Thumbay dam to MCF, 0.5 MGD to NMPT, and one MGD to other industries. Additionally, six MGD is supplied from AMR dam to MRPL and eight MGD to SEZ. If a shortage of drinking water occurs, the water from AMR dam will be utilized, potentially leading to a halt in industrial supply.

To address water-related issues, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has established a control room. Residents facing water scarcity can contact the MCC at 0824-222.306 or 0824-2220303 for assistance. Furthermore, the MCC has initiated the supply of tanker water to areas like Suratkal and Pandeshwar where the MCC pipeline supply is insufficient.

Sudhir Shetty Kannur, mayor of MCC, reassured citizens that despite the ongoing reduction in water levels, the city's water supply remains consistent. “Efforts to maintain the water level in Thumbay dam include the continuous pumping of 30% of water from the lower section, with round-the-clock monitoring of the situation,” he said.