The Hindu : Madikeri facing severe water crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Madikeri facing severe water crisis

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI April 18. It is the same old story. Madikeri is reeling under a severe drinking water crisis, mainly due to the apathy of the town municipal council (TMC).

Although the town receives adequate rainfall every year, even exceeding 3,000 mm., it faces drinking water shortage as early as December, and summer indeed turns torrid.

The district administration and the TMC are aware of the problem, but they have done little to tackle it. The main water source, Kootuhole, from where water is supplied to Madikeri, is almost dry. It is expected that water from the river could be supplied to the town only for a few days. Parts of Kodagu, except Madikeri, received good rainfall in March and April. The situation will go from bad to worse if the town does not receive rain in the next few days.

The TMC alone should be blamed for the drinking water shortage. Although the TMC is aware of the impending water shortage, it has shown little interest in tackling the problem. What was important for the councillors in the last three meetings was the issue of providing licence to a restaurant in the town.

The TMC had stated that a proposal seeking Rs. 85 lakh had been sent to the State Government by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) to remove silt from the Kootuhole Reservoir a few months ago. There is no information on whether the proposal had reached, or is being considered by, the Government. Schemes to supply water to Madikeri from Vanachalu near Galibeedu, and from the Cauvery at Bethri, 22 km. from here, have been proposed. Another scheme at Uppinagundi near Murnad has been proposed.

The TMC has no permanent engineer to look after water supply. A daily wage junior engineer has assumed all powers. He has been put in charge of several "portfolios".

Removal of silt at the Roshanara, another important water source, has suffered due to the TMC's negligence. The work was entrusted to a government agency, which abandoned it for some reason. The Pumpinakere water source, one of the oldest in the town, is said to have dried up.

According to sources, the TMC has requisitioned four tankers to supply water from Kaggodlu to the "Filter House" here. It has plans to supply water to the localities once in two days.

The Minister of State for Infrastructure Development and Civil Aviation, T. John, who visited the Kootuhole Reservoir on Wednesday, instructed the KUWSDB officials to take up work to remove silt soon.

The Kodagu in-charge Secretary, Falguni Rajkumar, visited the reservoir on Thursday.

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