Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Apr 19: Forest and ecology minister and district in-charge B Ramanath Rai has appealed to the people of Mangaluru and the district to use drinking water judiciously and has sought co-operation from public, while announcing that drinking water will be supplied on alternate days in the city from April 20.
Addressing media persons at the Circuit House here on Monday April 18, he said, "The water level in the dams supplying drinking water in the city has considerably come down due to a decrease of 21 percent in the rainfall during the last monsoon, as compared to regular rainfall. Now the water level stands at 9.6 feet in the Thumbay dam as compared to 12.7 feet last year and in AMR dam the level is 13.9 meters as compared to 17.8 meters. MRPL and other industries have agreed to accept the supply of drinking water on alternate days. Hence, water will be supplied to all the households in the city on alternate days. As situation has worsened we seek the co-operation of the public.
"I also request the public not to lift the water from the river basin for the agricultural purposes. I also urge the builders not to use drinking water supplied by the MCC for construction activities. Out of the total purified water 2 MGD water will be supplied to Thumbay and Arkula areas through the old water line to fulfill their drinking water demand," he informed.
MLA J R Lobo said that the MCC officials must clean the barren open wells and use that water to provide drinking water to the neighboring areas, while mayor Harinath instructed the officials to activate the dried borewells. "No drinking water will be supplied to construction sites from April 20 and wherever there is leakage, the pipes will be repaired immediately," the mayor said.
"As per current consumption, the available water for the city is sufficient only for 12 days. If it doesn't rain by May, it will last for little over 20 days with supply on alternative days," he added.
"The public and the officials have to be prepared for the situation," said DC A B Ibrahim.
Sports minister Abhaychandra Jain, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, SP Dr Sharanappa, city police commissioner Chandra Sekhar were present during the meeting.