Stating that officials have started pumping water from the backwater of Almatti dam to Kolhar jackwell, district in-charge Minister M.B. Patil on Thursday said that the drinking water problem would ease within a couple of days.
Speaking to presspersons at Baluti Jackwell near Kolhar here, he said that about 20 high capacity pumps have been installed and they are discharging 650 million litres/second water.
“This was a temporary measure, as water level has significantly reduced in the Almatti. Since the jackwell is at an elevated position, lifting water was the only best viable solution,” he said.
He said that since water is already reaching Kolhar, the Vijayapura City Corporation has started releasing water to localities for 30 minutes to 45 minutes, which would be increased as the water level increases in Kolhar.
On a permanent solution that the authorities have planned, Mr. Patil said that a 10-km-long pipeline from the backwater to the jackwell would be laid to provide a lasting solution.
He said that while it would take at least a fortnight to lay the pipeline, water would be pumped into Kolhar Jackwell as a temporary measure.
He said that once the pipeline work is completed, the administration could supply water even till July 15 even if it didn’t rain. To a question, he made it clear that tankers would continue to provide water in various wards of the city.
Deputy Commissioner K.B. Shivakumar said that 32 tankers were supplying water in the city now and 10 more would be hired in a day or two.
Koyna water
Mr. Patil said that Maharashtra has given indications of releasing 2.5 tmcft of water from its Koyna Dam to the State. He said that after the principal secretaries of water resources Ministries of the two States discussed the matter, chances of Maharashtra releasing water have significantly increased. He said that water, if released, would help in tiding over drinking water problem easily.
