Udupi: Volakadu goes about Supplying Free Water inspite of bickering by Officials

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 22 May 2012:  Udupi town known as temple town but currently has sever drought situation due to lack of rain this year.  The Swarna river on which people depend largely for water supply has been completely dried up.  The Municipal Council  which used to supply water for all areas of Udupi town area (wards) for 24 hours has now been able to supply only five to six hours putting people in very critical condition.  If there is no rain for another week the condition of people will be very grave and they are very much worried.

 
However, there is a ray of hope came through a one kind gentleman Mr. Nityananda Volakadu, General Secretary of Udupi Jilla Nagarika Samithi (Udupi District People’s Forum).  He was kind enough to provide enough supply of water for the people of the town without cast, creed, party or religion and that too free.  It is a blessing in disguise for them and they are really lucky to get water from this gentleman.

 

 
He has been considered as an angle by many has been supplying water during summer season for the affected people or area since last three years.  This year too he has been doing this yeoman service to his people since there is very sever shortage of water.  He is also considered by people of this temple town as legendary "Bhagiratha".  The Municipal Corporation too providing water through tankers as well some rich people spending their own money are supplying water to the badly affected areas, institutions and hospitals.

 
However, the unemployed Nityananda has no money but he has to beg with rich people and arrange water supply.  Some business people have been kind to him namely; Mr. Sudarshan Kamat who provides Syntex tanks and Shivappa Gowda has been assisting via his tractors for supply of uninterrupted water.  The local generous gentleman Sursh Shett and Yogesh Shett too has been generous by allowing him to arrange and draw water from their water wells. 

 
Since last one week Nityananda receives numerous calls early in the morning from many wards for urgent supply of water.  Morning till evening he has been supplying water for min 6 - 8 wards, two tankers eachward and independently supervises proper supply of water to every household.

 
The district officials say that they too providing water for each ward once in two days, however, the locals complain that there is not water supply since last 10 to 11 days in certain wards namely Nittur, Hanuman Nagar, Rajive Nagar and Kukunje.

 
When Nityananda supplied two tankers of water to these ward, people rushed with whatever vessels they could gather and looking at the scene it is very painful to see the grave situation of these badly drought hit people.

 
Some of the district officials have been bickering on free water supply by Nityananda but Nityananda Volakadu has been continuing his duties uninterrupted and serving the people in whatever capacity he can.