Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 29: The vented dam at Thumbay built to supply drinking water to the city holds only 2.95 meters of water as of now. If water is pumped on a daily basis, it would be able to meet the requirement of citizens for only eight more days.
The depleting water level has naturally caused anxiety among the citizens. The situation is being considered serious because, unlike in the past, there is no inflow of water into the dam since the last several weeks.
As per the water rationing method implemented in the city, water pumping was stopped at 6 am on May 28. The supply would be resumed on June 1. After the water is pumped for four more days and then stopped for four days, once water supply is resumed, it would be able to sustain for only one cycle of four days. One hopes that it will rain by then, but there is no viable alternative plans if the rainfall does not occur.
On an average, water level at Thumbay dam goes down by 15 cm everyday whenever water pumping is on. For four days, water level goes down by 60 cm. If we consider this, the current water held in the dam might suffice for eight days.
Even if water from wells and bore wells is used to supply water to citizens through tankers, there is likelihood of the situation turning critical as there is doubt about both water and supply machinery falling woefully short of the requirement.