Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Mar 22: Temperature is rising everywhere. Ground water level is dropping. Though water is available in 35 wards in the district, the problem is created by technology and water pressure. The level of water in Baje dam was 5.46 meters last year. It is 4.48 meters now. Officials have opined that water may last till April 20.

Pumps meant for irrigation are disconnected. Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said that water woes found in four grama panchayats will be solved at root level. She has asked the tahsildar to arrange supply of water through bore wells and water tankers.

The problem is found in Katpady, Hejmady, Palimar, Tenka Ermal, Padubidri and a few places in Kundapur. People are devastated by salt water in Kudru.

Quantity of rain water decreases every year and ground water level also decreases in the heat. As per experts, man consumes water that should last for a year in eight months. Water is a natural resource but there is no alternative for it. It decreases if not reused.

Varahi dam is a life line for people in Kundapur. Therefore, the problem is not acute there. But Swarna river is the only source of water for Udupi. “If the 360 crore project supplying water from Varahi to Udupi becomes successful, people in Udupi will have permanent source of water,” said council environment engineer Raghavendra to Daijiworld.

The quantum of rain in 2013 in the district was 4815 mms. It dropped to 4009 mm in 2014. The rain in 2015 was 3771 and 3414 in 2016.

While there is scorching sunshine on one side, the number of auspicious occasions increase in April and May due to vacations. Therefore the demand for water rises. As the water level in wells goes down, people have to rely only on water tankers.