Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 30: City mayor, Harinath, noted that the water stored in the Thumbe reservoir would be sufficient for the city only for a week. He asked officials to conduct study, identify water sources, and put up complete information about details of private and government wells as well as borewells in the city which can be processed and utilized, within a week. He warned of holding the officials responsible if they fail to attend to this work properly.

He was addressing the general session of the city corporation council convened here on Friday April 29.

City corporation commissioner, Dr H N Gopalakrishna, said that as a measure of managing crisis in case the vented dam at Thumbe goes dry, tankers have been kept in readines. "We have identified some water sources in the city and sent water samples to the university for testing their potability. Unauthorized pumps that were functioning to a distance of 11 km from AMR dam have been cleared. There is 2 MCM water in Disha Power Project at Kempu Hole, Gundia, and a proposal has been sent to the deputy commissioner of the district to release this water in case situation goes out of control," he explained.

Leader of the opposition in the city corporation, Premanand Shety, speaking on the occasion, put the blame directly on the apathy of officials in managing water problem. "Even after being aware that there is water shortage, the officials did not take steps to conserve water. They could have arranged to see that AMR dam holds enough water. How did the water level at AMR fall steeply all of a sudden?" he wanted to know.

Sudhir Shetty Kannur wanted to know where from water would be provided if the wells go dry. Roopa D Bangera said that water problem would not have arisen if the vented dam construction was completed in time. Several corporators said that the water that is being supplied through taps once in two days is not even reaching 40 percent of houses.

Corporator, Mahabala Marla, sought to know from officials how water in AMR dam, which the officials had claimed stoold at 13.9 feet, suddenly went down the next day. Premananda Shetty strongly felt that the officials were expected to ensure that the water at AMR dam is maintained at the usual level as in earlier years. He blamed officials for casually making statements about sufficient water being available in that dam without checking the fact.

City corporation commissioner said that the deputy commissioner had been apprised of water problem in first week of April. This matter also was brought up at the meeting attended by district in-charge secretary, Bharatlal Meena. Later, at a meeting presided over by minister Ramanath Rai, it was decided to regulate water supply once in two days. Therefore, the officials have been handling the issue to the best of their abilities, he stated.

Engineer in water supply division, Linge Gowda, said that 1 MCM water is available in MRPL dam but it has 15 feet of sand. He said this water can be brought by conducting dredging. He added that about 72 bunds built at various spots along River Netravati were cleared, as a result of which five to six inches of water flowed into Thumbe dam.

Deputy mayor, Sumitra Kariya, standing committee chairpersons, Lancylot Pinto, Basheer Ahmed, Appi, and others were present.