Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Fisheries, Youth Em powerment and Sports, said on Tuesday that all arrangements were in place to tackle drinking water scarcity in Udupi city and surrounding areas.
He was speaking at a review meeting of officials of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) and Panchayat Development Officers of Udupi Assembly constituency on the issues of water supply, distribution of title deeds, and BPL ration cards.
He said the water level at Baje dam across the Swarna river (called Swarna First Stage), from where drinking water is being supplied to Udupi city and surrounding areas, was 5.66 metres on Tuesday. There is no water left in Shiroor dam (called Swarna Second Stage). The inflow to Baje Dam has stopped, but all arrangements have been made to provide the water available till the end of the summer, he said.
But K. Raghavendra, CMC environment engineer, said the present quantity would be enough for only about 70 days if the water is supplied at the present rate. Only if there is some regulation will it be possible to supply water for another 20 days, he said.
Mr. Madhwaraj directed the officials to float tenders by the end of April to undertake dredging work in the areas behind Baje dam so that water can be pumped if the water shortage intensifies in May. The CMC should take the municipal councillors of all 35 wards into confidence on the issue of water management. It should also be told of all measures taken to tackle water shortage, the Minister said.
D. Manjunathaiah, CMC Commissioner, said a meeting of municipal councillors would be called in the next two days, where they would be briefed of all the measures with regard to the water situation.
The CMC had tried water regulation on an experimental basis and found that only 58 houses were not getting water during the period. The CMC will start a 24x7 dedicated line to deal with people’s complaints on water, he said.
At the meeting, Mr. Madhwaraj also said that nearly 11,000 beneficiaries have been provided BPL cards in the constituency.
