Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 17: District administrations in coastal Karnataka have been undertaking all measures to manage drinking water supply during the summer months without much of a problem. They have been taking steps for ensuring judicious and proper use of water towards managing the summer season without encountering any water crisis.
Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Dr Rajendra K V, has passed an order to temporarily stop the commercial tap water connection within the district and to remove unauthorised pump sets fitted in agricultural lands located by the side of the rivers.
After chairing a meeting on the issue of drinking water on Tuesday March 16, Rajendra advised the urban and local bodies to carefully observe the availability and inflow of water in the rivers and manage the situation in such a way that drinking water problem does not arise during the summer months. “lf river water is not available, other water sources should be identified and works should be undertaken to take works for using these sources. The city corporations and local bodies have to appoint nodal officers to keep a watch on water availability and oversee water supply," he stated.
He observed that due to summer heat, sources of water of rivers get dried up and water flow has been becoming feeble with the passage of time. Generally, for the urban areas, river water is the source of drinking water, he noted and advised the bodies to manage drinking water supply in such a way that the water available is sufficient till the monsoon season begins. He advised them to create awareness among the people to use water sparingly.
Zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Dr Kumar, instructed the officials to take precautions to see that rural areas do not face water shortage during April and May.
He was speaking after presiding over the district water and sanitation mission meeting. He said that a water supply scheme purification unit with a capacity of 72 mld that can cater to drinking water requirements of 24 villages and also Kotekar town panchayat and Ullal municipality has been undertaken to draw water from River Netravati at a cost of Rs 249 crore.