The Hindu

MANGALORE, Sep 2: Mangalore Taluk Panchayat is planning to take up the construction of a vented dam across the Phalguni at Malavoor to supply drinking water to 12 villages under seven gram panchayats in Mangalore taluk, late this year, according to R. Kantaraj, executive officer of the panchayat.

Informing this to A.G. Kodgi, chairman, State’s Third Finance Commission, at a review meeting here on Monday, Mr. Kantaraj said that as per the plan, water from the proposed dam would be pumped to overhead tanks installed at the gram panchayat headquarters. In addition, the taluk panchayat would build at least five overhead tanks at different locations. The gram panchayats would distribute water to peole from those tanks, he said.

Gram panchayats of Bala, Malavoor, Moodushedde, Bajpe, Ekkar, Permude and Jokatte will benefit from the proposed dam.

The Department of Drinking Water Supply under the Union Ministry for Rural Development had promised to sanction Rs. 16.38 crore for the project. The panchayat had accumulated Rs. 92.56 lakh through public contribution for the same. The dam could be built from this amount, Mr. Kantaraj said.

Laying of water supply pipelines, construction of overhead tanks, pump-houses and a treatment plant and related work would require at least Rs. 6 crore.

As there was no fund for these works, the State Government could allocate funds, he said.

“The panchayat is hopeful of collecting funds by starting the work,” he added.