Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, May 28: Karnataka chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, chaired a meeting held here on Monday May 27 where drinking water problem in Dakshina Kannada district with particular emphasis of drinking water shortage experienced by Mangaluru and Dharmasthala was discussed.
Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Dr R Selvamani, who was here as per the instructions of the chief minister, provided information about the problems encountered by Dharmasthala establishment arising out of drying up of River Netravati. He also said that Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr Veerendra Heggade, has requested the government to build two vented dams across Neriya rivulet and River Netravati. He informed that accordingly the proposal was sent to the minor irrigation department to build two dams at a cost of seven crore rupees. The chief minister directed the concerned to approve the proposal immediately and take steps to build vented dams as requested.
Urban development minister, U T Khader, giving details about the drinking water problem faced by Mangaluru, informed that there has been an increase in the population of Mangaluru. He said that there is need to store water to a height of seven meters in Thumbay dam to handle water problem. He also drew the attention of the chief minister to the fact that this will submerge 344 acres of land additionally and Rs 130 crore would be needed to acquire this land by paying compensation.
The chief minister positively responded to the request and asked the concerned to put forth proposal for the same. He also asked deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Sasikanth Senthil, to study the pros and cons of reverse osmosis plant being installed by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and submit a report thereof.
Kumaraswamy also asked the officials to provide rehabilitation to 150 families whose houses have been identified as facing risk from sea erosion in Ullal area. He wanted the rehabilitation to be arranged on Kodagu model.
Minister for minor irrigation C S Puttaraju, additional chief secretary to the chief minister, Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Board managing director, A B Ibrahim, and brother of Dr Veerendra Heggade, Surendra Kumar, participated in the meeting.