Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jun 17: Because of the apathy of the Water Board officials towards mainting an overhead water tank used for supplying water to the town, it came down crashing at about 2.45 am on Monday June 16 morning. The tank, located at Ramasamudra water supply centre, was used for storing the purified water received from Ramasamudra water purification plant. This 28-year-old tank with a capacity of two lac litres, was not repaired although it was leaking since the last five years and the concrete of the pillars had peeled off, laying bare the steel rods inside.

It is alleged, that repeated pleas put forth in this regard by councillor Mohammed Sheriff at the last several council sessions fell on deaf years. The deputy commissioner had asked the Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board to prepare an estimate for the repairing of the tank, sump tank and dam, about two years ago. However owing to total negligence, the officials never attempted to do this.

The municipality has set aside Rs 25 lac for these works out of its 2005-06 budget and another Rs 75 lac for 2006-07. Owing to delay in executing the works, nearly 75% of the town's population will be deprived of purified water in the days to come.