Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 15: To facilitate repair at the new vented dam at Thumbe, water stored in the dam was released in large quantities on Tuesday November 14. This gave rise to suspicion in the minds of the general public.
Normally, wooden planks are lowered to stop outflow of water during November. Last year, this was done on November 14. But this year, no such step has been undertaken so far. Water continues to pour out of the dam even now. Many locals said that on Tuesday, floodgates of both the vented dams were opened and large amount of water was allowed to flow into the sea.
It is gathered that the officials had opened all the four flood gates to undertake repair of gate valve in the new dam and verification of jackwell. As the inflow of water continues to be satisfactory, they allowed water stored in the dams to flow out, as a result of which the water level in the dams touched rock bottom.
Some citizens said that because of delay in inserting planks in the past, there had been water problem in summer months. The city corporation officials had fitted the planks during January 2016, resulting in problem that year. Last year however, as the deputy commissioner was sounded about the situation, he intervened and saw that the pnaks were placed on November 14 itself, as a result of which there was no water problem during summer.
By 5 pm on Tuesday, gate valve repair work was completed and the gates were closed. As the inflow in river continued to be good, water level rose to 3.5 metres. Officials expressed the confidence that the level would further rise. A decision about increasing the level further to five or six metres can be taken only after the issue of disbursement of compensation to affected people is resolved, the officials reveal.
In the meantime, the executive engineer of city corporation second division, in a release, said that water supply to parts of the city like Kodical, Kottara Jalligudda, Kulur, Panambur, Suratkal, Katipalla etc would be affe cted from 8 am to 6 pm on Wednesday November 15 because of emergency maintenance work in LLPS I - 18 MGD plant of Thumbe dam. He has requested people to bear with the city corporation for the inconvenience.