Mangaluru: Water level in dams depleting; Minister Sorake urges citi-zens for judicious use

Pics by John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 26 April 2016: The state urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake here on Monday April 25 appealed the citi-zens of Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada district to use drinking water judiciously as the water levels in the vented dams at Thumbay and AMR Power are depleting faster. 

 

Addressing media persons at the Circuit House here on Monday April 25, after inspecting vented dams at Thumbay and AMR Power at Shamboor, minister Sorake said, ‘The water levels in the dams supplying drinking water to the city have been fast depleting.’

 

 

‘Now the water level stands at 7.9 feet at Thumbay dam and at AMR dam the level is 4.6 meters. MRPL and other industries draw water from AMR dam. Mangaluru requires 100 MLD water everyday but now about 160 MLD water is being lifted which includes 40 MLD for industries and 20 MLD for panchayat areas,’ said minister Sorake.

 

‘Mangaluru south MLA J R Lobo and mayor convened an emergency meeting with civic officials to list water sources in the city. About 66 tankers have been reserved to supply water. All necessary measures are taken to deal with the crisis. First priority is given to drinking water. The state funds will be released to Mangaluru civic body to solve drinking water crisis,’ said minister Sorake.

 

MLA J R Lobo said, ‘Water supply to industries will be completely stalled until the monsoon. Its during the last meeting with district in-charge minister, civic officials misguided us about the available water levels. Contingency plan is being prepared to deal with the crisis. If water completely dries in the dams, we have precautionary plans in place. Borewell, wells and other water sources are being identified so that water can be supplied through tankers if the dams completely dry up. For this purpose, about 66 tankers are reserved, that is one for each ward plus 6 reserve tankers.

 

‘As of now, the government has set up a task force Committee and about Rs 1.40 crore each has been allotted to Mangaluru south and north constituencies. An inquiry will be held by the mayor on erring officials who have given wrong information, said MLA Lobo. 

 

The mayor Harinath, Mangaluru north MLA Mohiuddin Bava and others were present.