Mangaluru’s Dakshina Kannada district administration has constituted a committee, headed by the Assistant Commissioner (AC), to manage various water resources and thereby prevent a drinking water crisis during peak summer. Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP said initiatives will be taken to ensure judicious use of water available in check dams and various other water resources in the district.
“Directions have been given to impound water stored in Thumbe vented dam, multi-village water scheme sources, and all dams in the district and manage the supply cautiously. A decision in this regard has been taken in the wake of deficit rainfall in Dakshina Kannada district,” the DC told reporters.
On the new bridge-cum- barrage built across the Nethravati River at Harekala, which is yet to be commissioned, the DC said there will be no water scarcity in Mangaluru city once the water storage commences in the dam. However, storing water to its maximum level will submerge surrounding areas. Hence, maximum water storage can be ensured only if land in surrounding areas is acquired.
“I have directed officials from the minor irrigation department to submit a detailed proposal in this regard,” he said. “Water from the Thumbe vented dam of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is also supplied to Ullal City Municipality areas, Mulki town panchayat, and gram panchayats on the stretch between Thumbe and Mangaluru. Silt from the Thumbe vented dam was removed in 2018-19. The water storage in the dam can be increased if the silt removal work is undertaken again. To ensure better coordination in water supply, the committee headed by the AC will hold meetings,” he added. To a query, the DC said that since the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., (MRPL) has set up a desalination unit, pressure on the Thumbe dam has been reduced
