Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, March 4: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday called for urgent and coordinated measures to safeguard Mangaluru against a potential drinking water crisis, citing forecasts of a harsh summer and a likely delay in the onset of the monsoon.
The minister offered Ganga Pooja to the Nethravathi River at the Thumbe vented dam before reviewing water storage and supply arrangements. He directed officials to ensure that adequate water availability is maintained until at least June so that residents do not face hardship during the peak summer months.
Referring to weather reports predicting an extended summer, he said authorities must plan systematically and manage available resources efficiently. “We must plan systematically and manage available resources efficiently so that there is no scarcity,” he said, stressing the need for advance planning in distribution for the coming months.
Storage position and supply network
Officials informed that water is currently impounded up to six metres at the Thumbe vented dam in Bantwal taluk. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of approximately 10.42–10.49 million cubic metres (MCM), and there is still some inflow into the dam.
Water from Thumbe supplies 60 wards under the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), besides catering to Thumbe, Pudu and Adyar gram panchayats under multi-village drinking water schemes. Around 0.26 MCM of water is lifted daily to serve Mulki and Ullal CMC limits. Water stored in the reservoir is drawn through a jackwell pump house to five treatment plants, purified and then pumped to overhead tanks and GLSR tanks before being distributed to consumers.
Officials stated that without further inflow, the present six-metre storage would suffice for approximately 39 days. If levels fall, water will be released from dams upstream of Thumbe. In addition, freshwater stored at the Adyar dam downstream will be pumped back to Thumbe, with arrangements to draw up to 50 MLD daily to maintain reservoir levels.
Contingency measures for summer
To address potential shortages, authorities have put in place multiple precautionary measures. There are 140 borewells within the 60 wards of MCC limits and additional borewells will be drilled if necessary, while open wells will be cleaned and maintained for emergency use.
Tanker supply will be arranged for elevated areas facing acute shortages. If required, rationing measures may be introduced and water supply to industries could be suspended. As several pump sets used for agricultural and horticultural purposes are located near the riverbed where water is stored, the district administration, in coordination with MESCOM authorities, has prepared to temporarily disconnect electricity supply to such pump sets if necessary.
Officials recalled that in 2017, 2019 and 2023, the city experienced severe shortages owing to sharp declines in river water levels and delayed monsoon rains. Current inflow trends indicate a similar risk this year, necessitating close monitoring and preparedness.
Jalsiri project progress
Officials also briefed the minister on the progress of the Jalasiri project, aimed at strengthening the city’s distribution network for 24x7 water supply. So far, 63% of the work has been completed.
The project is being implemented by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) under the Asian Development Bank-assisted Karnataka Water Infrastructure Management Project (KWIMP). It was originally scheduled for completion by May 24, 2023. However, delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, pending permissions from the National Highways Authority and the Railway Department, issues related to the New Mangalore Port Authority, and land acquisition hurdles prevented completion within the stipulated timeframe.
An extension was subsequently granted until November 23, 2025, and the contractor has now sought a further extension until December 31, 2026, to complete the remaining works.
Of the 52.57 km-long clear water transmission main, 44.64 km has been completed. Out of the 1,155.36 km distribution network, 868.84 km has been laid. Of the 19 overhead tanks planned, three have been commissioned. Civil works for 14 tanks have been completed, work on one tank is in progress, and construction of another has not commenced due to land-related issues.
Former minister B Ramanath Rai, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MESCOM chairman Harish Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V., Mangaluru City Corporation deputy commissioner (Administration) Naresh Shenai, former corporators and officials were present. Corporation Commissioner Ravichandra Nayak welcomed the gathering and compered the programme.