Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 20: The vented dam at Thumbe built across River Netravati can hold water up to the level of seven metres. However, water level is currently being retained at six metres, even though recently the district in-charge secretary, Ponnuraj, had directed to maintain water level of seven metres.

Water inflow into the dam has become very weak now. Last year too, the water level that was maintained at six metres in February had gone down to 2.1 metres by June 10 after which the level picked up with the advent of rainfall.

Because of excessive rainfall last year in the ghat section, silt has got accumulated in River Netravati and its tributaries and therefore inflow has becomes feeble. Bright sunshine coupled with weak inflow are sure to affect the water available in the dam, and pose challenges for the people of the city and nearby areas who are dependent on River Netravati for drinking and other purposes.

Electricity generation at AMR dam on the upstream of Thumbe dam has now been stopped and water has been stored to the full level. The deputy commissioner had promised at a meeting of farmers grievances redressal committee held recently, that compensation would be paid to all farmers whose lands will get submerged when water level in the dam goes up to seven km nu February 25. When staff had recently come visited the farm for conducting the survey, the farmers sent them back, duly asking them to conduct the survey only after disbursing compensation, said M Subrahmanya Bhat, president of Thume Vented Dam affected Farmers Action Committee.

Assistant executive engineer of city corporation, Naresh Shenoy, said that survey work on increasing water level to seven metres has not been completed and that in a meeting being held by the month end, discussions may be held about the need to ration water supply during summer months.