Pics: Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)
Mangalore, Apr 29: Dekkadu residents alleged that the Munnur Panchayat has taken no action regarding the scarcity of drinking water faced by them for the last two weeks and laid siege to the Panchayat office on Monday April 28.
There are more than 150 houses in the Dekkadu area and there is scarcity of water as every year. A bore well was dug for Dekkadu residents four years ago. The then Panchayat president and Zilla panchayat got into an oral agreement for supply of water. Gradually all the wells in the village dried up.
However the water from the bore well dug for Dekkadu residents was being distributed to low level residents of Subhashnagar and Majaluthota. The practice has continued and as the water is distributed to them this time also, Dekkadu residents whose houses are in the higher ground level are facing scarcity of water, said the protesters. They demanded that the distribution of water to low level areas be stopped. They warned the Panchayat officials of intensified protests if the panchayat officials do not solve the problem.
The protesters alleged that a person in Survey number 68/489 has dug a bore well and is selling water to outsiders through water tanker and the local people are facing hardship for drinking water. They said that failure of the development officials and panchayat to take action has caused the scarcity.
Babu, a member of Majaluthota panchayat asked the protesters what is wrong if water is supplied to their part of village. The protesters expressed anguish that the Majaluthota residents had not supplied water to them even though they are facing shortage for twelve days.
They expressed their resolve not to supply water to them and threatened to cut the water pipe if water is supplied.
Abdul Rehman, president of Munnur panchayat said that they have tried to supply water to everybody. Considering the water problem faced by Dekkadu residents, a new water pump was installed. “The installation took time due to technical reasons and we have faced the problem due to irresponsible water man. Now that the water man is replaced, the water will be released by the afternoon”, he assured.