Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, May 24: Udupi City Municipality Council (CMC) is facing a problem of water shortage. Even though the city administration is working overtime to resolve the issues, the lack of pre-monsoon showers has worsened the situation.
Hiriyadka Baje dam, a major source of drinking water for Udupi city and the surrounding seven grama panchayats has just 3 meters of water.
The Udupi district hospital is also facing a huge problem due to lack of adequate supply of water. Water from a government well is being supplied to the district hospital. Due to shortage of water in the government well, the municipality has already passed a tender to supply 4 tankers of water to the district hospital and 4 tankers of water to Mother and Child Hospital. The price of one tanker is fixed at Rs.1,300, but the market value is Rs. 3,000 per tanker.
The hospital has 100 to 130 in-patients and about 800 to 1,000 outpatients. Water is consumed for drinking purposes, day-to-day activities, cleaning and for patient care. The delay in water supply is likely to take a toll on all the activities.
Udupi district deputy commissioner Kurma Rao M had on Monday, May 22, paid a visit to the hospital and inspected the situation. He has ordered the city municipality to provide one tanker a day to the district hospital. Due to shortage of staff in the hospital the hospital authorities are unable to check the quantity of water consumption.
There was a tepid response to the tender called by the city municipality council. The price of a tanker of water is Rs.1050 and therefore they can supply only 2 to 4 tankers of water a day. Price for one tanker of water for private entities is around Rs.3,000 for 12,000 litres. As of now the Municipality is managing to supply water to people of Udupi District.
Speaking with daijiworld.com, R P Naik, commissioner, Udupi city municipality council said, “There is an acute shortage of water in Udupi city municipality limits. We are spreading awareness among the people to use water judiciously, but some members of the public are using water without any restrictions. Already we have begun the rationing system. If this system continues we will be able to supply water till June 10. But due to low pressure in some uphill areas, water supply has been interrupted. We are providing water through tankers from May 18 to tackle this issue. Nodal officers have also been appointed to oversee the water supply. Water shortage in district hospital has also come to my notice and as per district deputy commissioner’s direction we have provided one tanker of water and I have directed the tender holder to maintain uninterrupted water supply to the district hospital.”
In 2018, the Udupi CMC spent Rs 1.43 crore for dredging of Baje dam and water was supplied for 46 days. This year they are using the water from 4 places including Shiroor and Puttige to Baje dam through dredging. If the Varahi project is not completed this year then people are likely to suffer till 2025.
The decrease in rainfall is affecting the drinking water supply and agricultural activity. The Udupi CMC has begun to supply water on a rationing basis from May 19. According to this arrangement, water is being supplied once every 3 days. On Monday and Tuesday there will be no water supply. The amount of water in Baje dam is around 2.90 metres and so water can be supplied until June 10, once in three days. If it rains before June 10 then the water problem will be solved.