Moodubelle, 04 April 2012: In the 4th and 5th ward of Moodubelle Grama Panchayath and in Padubelle areas about 300 families are struggling with the water shortage. A well provided by the Jilla Panchayath has completely dried up. Having no other alternative water supply nearby these people walk half to one kilometer away and carry water from there in pots. But as there is water shortage even in that area also, sometimes they have to return back with empty pots.
About 15 days back, the members of Jilla Panchayath and the ward members of the Belle Grama Panchayath, inspected the areas and after the survey they identified a water source for bore-well in a location at the Grama Panchayath border. But unfortunately, four families from Shirva Grama made objection on drilling the bore-well in that area and they have submitted their complaint on this matter to the Shirva Grama Panchayath.
As there is no other proper water source nearby in that area, the people of Padubelle area face this problem every year in the summer and struggle for water. The people of these 300 families have already submitted their petitions, pleading to the authorities to make necessary arrangements for providing drinking water in their area at the earliest so that their lives can be saved. The petitions have been already submitted to the Presidents of Udupi Jilla, Taluk and Grama Panchayaths and also to the Jilla Chief Administrative Officer and Panchayath Development Officer.
The people of Darmadarshi Colony, Madhwanagara Colony, Shivagiri colony and Rakshapura areas have serious water scarcity. A local person said that, while asking for votes during the election, the representatives of various parties come to us here and they say that ‘give us your votes and your water problem will be resolved before the month January’. But many Januaries passed away as usual, but our water problem is never solved so far and for the sake of water, now we will have to go to them and beg, he said.
On Tuesday 03.04.2012 in the morning at 10.30 am about 150 people gathered near the Church circle. Former Minister Vasantha V. Saliyan, Udupi Jilla Panchayath Member Ida Gibba D’Souza, Belle Panchayath Member Harish Shetty, Belle Panchayath Vice President Sujatha Suvarna, Anil D’Souza and many other people were also present there.
As they discussed on this problem, the leaders realized that the primary problem there now is water. The reality is that, even the government sub health centre there also have no water supply, so they have to plead to neighbours to get the water from them. Some people are even migrating from that area for the sake of water.
Speaking on the occasion, the former Minister Vasantha V. Saliyan said that, it is better to conduct the re inspection and survey of the water source. He scheduled this survey to be conducted on 07.04.2012 and asked the Presidents and members also to be present on this occasion.