Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 28: MLA, J R Lobo, addressing a press conference after visiting the vented dam at Thumbay which supplies water to the city on Friday May 27, said that the water level at the dam has reached 9.5 feet, thanks to the cooperation extended by local people and companies. "The water woes of the city have been temporarily solved. Water will be supplied to the city every day from now on. At the same time we are taking steps to ensure that the crisis which had gripped the city recently will not recur in the future," he stated.
He said that at present only 0.5 mgd water is being supplied from Lakya dam, adding that efforts are on to get 5 mgd water from this dam for taking care of the water requirement of Suratkal region.
Lobo said that the construction of the new dam is in progress and it will be completed in June. "As land acquisition process relating to many areas that will be submerged due to this dam have not yet been completed, we will be able to store water only up to the level of five metres there. We will send a proposal to Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board to build vented dams across small streams and rivulets to avoid water getting into the sea during this period. Once the land acquisition is completed, the new dam can hold 7 metres of water," he explained. Lobo said that henceforth, digging of new borewells will be banned in the city, processed waste water will be supplied to industries, rainwater harvesting will be made compulsory and the entire underground drainage system will be revamped under the ADB project, besides taking other steps to conserve and augment water resources.
MLA, Mohiuddin Bava, said that the concerned have been asked to conduct survey to identify ten acres of land at Baikampady area for the proposed desalination plant. City mayor, Harinath, thanked city corporators, officials and engineers who worked hard to manage the crisis and also the citizens for their cooperation. He said that he came to know about the order issued by the deputy commissioner permitting industries to draw water from the river through the media reports. He said that the industries will be allowed to do so till the water level in the dam stays above seven feet. He added that the Supreme Court will be apprised of the need to release more water to the city from Lakya dam in view of the water problem prevailing here. He suggested to industries to find their own sources of water.
Chief whip of the city corporation, Shashidhar Hegde, city corporation commissioner, H N Gopalakrishna, assistant executive engineer, Linge Gowda, several corporators and others were present.