Mangalore: Water Crisis - Mayor Inspects Vented Dam, Blames Shortage of Rain
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Mar 26: A day after deputy speaker Yogish Bhat expressed his concern over shortage of water in vented dam after it came down to 8.10 feet, mayor Gulzar Banu on Monday March 26 inspected the dam and said that the reason for the shortage of water is natural as it had not rained in catchments areas.
She assured that water supply to industries will be stopped and priority will be given for drinking water to cater to the needs of citizens in city corporation limits.
Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde said that water supply to MRPL and MCF will be stalled. To a query on AMR power project using excessive water, he said the issue will be brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner through the MCC commissioner. He further said it was lack of inflow of water that caused shortage of water.
MCC commissioner Harish Kumar said that precautionary measures to save water may involve cutting of water supply in the future. He hoped that timely rain in two weeks time will solve the problem.
Contrary to Yogish Bhat’s statement that water in the dam is enough only for nine days, the MCC commissioner said that there will be no problem in potable water supply for another 45 days. He called upon the citizens to use water discreetly and avoid wasting it.
Measures have also been taken to pump back the water drained due to usual leakage in the dam from one side to another.
On the pipeline that burst in Bendorewell on Monday morning, Linge Gowda, assistant executive engineer of MCC said that it was a 600 mm AC cement pipe which was placed 25 years ago. "The pipe burst due to the pressure caused by road widening work," he said.
Water level on March 26 in previous years was follows (in ft):
1993 - 12.8
1994 - 12.6
1995 - 12.8
1996 - 12.4
1997 - 13
1998 - 12.7
1999 - 12.9
2000 - 12.1
2001 - 11.3
2002 - 11.5
2003 - 9.9
2004 - 8.11
2005 - 9.9
2006 - 13
2007 - 13
2008 - 12.3
2009 - 13
2010 - 11.8
2011 - 12