Florine Roche
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 29: Once again, the coastal city Mangaluru is facing severe water crisis. It seems the district administration and the officials and the elected representatives are least bothered about the water crisis Mangalureans are facing. Mangalureans must be shuddering at the very thought of coming to terms with another drinking water crisis having faced the most awful nightmare in 2016. The people are also equally responsible for the present state of affairs because they did not follow up matter all through the year.
It was in April-May last year that Mangaluru faced one of the worst drinking water crises in recent times. If last year’s example has not taught a bitter lesson to the authorities then surely they will never learn anything. People expected the district administration and elected representatives to take corrective and precautionary measures to surmount the drinking water shortage facing the city. Unfortunately they remain only empty promises.
For the people of Mangaluru there seems to be no respite from the reality as far as shortage of drinking water is concerned. Once again the worse fears of Mangalureans have become a reality and the situation looks worse than last year's. At a time when mercury levels in the city are soaring beyond the usual limit and water requirement would increase Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) officials have woken up and have started rationing water supply in the city. However, Corporation officials dispel that the situation is grim and claim that the rationing of water is nothing but preventive measure.
File photo: Pipeline burst at Kottara Chowki in 2014
MCC took a decision to supply water once in two days much to the chagrin of citizens who were assured of water supply 24x7, a must requirement for a smart city. Contrary to it, MCC officials, claim that the rationing of water has become imperative so that the city does not have to face a problem akin to last year's. They point out that this rationing of water supply is a pre-emptive measure so that the people will get water supply for the next 60 days, at least on alternate days.
Bagful of woes
This rationing of water distribution has brought to the fore a bagful of woes, including the lack of supply of water to some wards in the city even at an interval of 48 hours. Mayor Kavita Sanil who is facing the first major challenge since assuming office as mayor, says that MCC held an emergency meeting last week to effect some changes to the water rationing introduced just a week back on March 20. Talking to Daijiworld.com Kavita Sanil pointed out, "Many corporators and even people have complained about some elevated wards of the city not getting water supply even once in two days. So we have changed the rationing system and from March 27 onwards we are releasing water continuously for three days and then stopping the supply for 36 hours. This would ensure water supply to all the wards of the city including those places located on a higher level."
She also said, "The inflow of water into river Netravati stopped in February itself. The water available in Thumbay and AMR dams would be sufficient only for 60 days. We have taken the precautionary measure of rationing water to avoid further escalation of the crisis." It was decided that from March 20, Mangaluru is to get water only once in every 36 hours. The system of rationing which began on March 20 has, however, run into rough weather as corporators have complained of some higher elevated areas not getting any water supply even after 36 hours. The mayor had called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter and it was decided to supply water continuously for three days and then curb supply for two days. The new rule become effective from March 27.
According to MCC officials, water levels in Thumbay would be sufficient for the next 60 days if the MCC sticks to its decision to supply water on alternate days. On that count, even if the monsoon is in time say first week of June or if there is even a slight delay, then Mangalureans will have severe water shortage problem. With the authorities giving conflicting views on the amount of water available at Thumbay vented dam and AMR dams, the situation looks quite grim. To add to the problem, for the first time in the history of Dakshina Kannada two of its taluks Mangaluru and Bantwal are declared as drought-hit by the state government last month. Therefore, the official machinery has to be extra vigilant and take up the responsibility of providing drinking water and other needs of people these two taluks. Naturally, there will be more burdens on the existing levels of water available for consumption.
MLA of Mangaluru South constituency J R Lobo who is aware of the water shortage problem says, "The water at Thumbay would be sufficient for 30 days without rationing and would last for 60 days if supplied on alternate days."
He opines that the problem is not with the source of the water but with the distribution. "Unfortunately we don’t have scientific system of distribution and more than 30 percent of the water gets wasted through leakage. Further, there is interference at every level of work pertaining to the scientific distribution of water supply which hampers the work the technical staff undertake. In the absence of a free hand to the technical staff it is not possible to chalk out a scientific distribution system and arrest the leakage," Lobo pointed out. Lobo further said, "The engineers should be given a free hand to provide a scientific distribution of water supply. The interference should be only when they make grave mistakes."
50,000 litres of water for musical fountain
When the city is reeling under severe water shortage MCC’s move to inaugurate the much awaited musical fountain in Kadri park which requires about 50,000 litres of water, has come in for criticism from several quarters. Many people question this move of the district administration to spend water for the musical fountain. Sources in MCC however, pointed out that 50,000 litres of water is required only initially and the same water will be recycled.
Pipe bursts
There are also complaints of MCC officials ignoring water pipe burst at Bondel on March 25 and at Kadri on March 26, resulting in wastage of precious water. When contacted, assistant executive engineer of MCC said, "Pipe bursting is not something which we can prevent in advance. Once we come to know about such instances we respond with the seriousness it deserves and we take quick measures to stop the wastage." Contrary to these claims, there are many instances where the officials have shown slapdash attitude and lackadaisical approach to respond proactively to deal with the problem.
Will Mangalureans get the promised 24X7 water supply or will it be a mirage? MCC officials say that it will take another 2 to 3 years as only after the ADB II phase programme is implemented there can be uninterrupted water supply. But given the snail's pace at which these facilities are implemented it looks like Mangalureans will be facing water shortage every summer for some more years. The first and major hiccup in Mangaluru becoming a smart city!