Water scarcity hits kids on first day

Funds have been released to schools for purchasing water tanks and making other facilities: Edu officer

As Udupi is facing shortage of drinking water supply, the schools in the city too are not an exception.

Though the schools were re-opened on Wednesday, several schools sent the children back home early due to the shortage of drinking water in Udupi City Municipal Council limits. 

All the government schools prepare mid-day meals for the students. But the food preparation requires pure water and additional water is required for drinking as well as toilet purposes. The water requirement is more in the schools with the students strength of over 100. As some of the schools are facing severe water scarcity, they resorted to send the children back home early, rather than facing further inconveniences.  The CMC supplies water once in two days, which is not sufficient at all as the water is supplied only for 12 hours. The schools have no other way but to store the water when it is released and again the problem is with the lack of huge tanks to store enough water for two days. A few schools do have overhead tanks to store water, but the same benefit is not enjoyed by all schools. 

“The CMC supplies water once in two days and so we are facing the water scarcity. In the absence of enough water, cleanliness can not be maintained in schools which would pose health hazards among children. We sent the children back home early on the first day due to shortage of water and we have requested the CMC officials to take up measures to solve the problem,” said Mahatma Gandhi Higher Primary School, Udupi, Head Master Shambhu Suvarna.

In contrast, Education Officer Ashok Kamath said that Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 has been released to schools for purchasing water tanks and making other facilities. If they are facing further problems, they can make drinking water arrangements by using Akshara Dasoha grants (convertible fund). 

CMC President Kiran Kumar was not available on telephone to seek response. 

The water scarcity problem has popped up in Udupi mostly due to the lack of water in Baje reservoir. Though water is being pumped from the river near Shirur, it is not enough to meet the water demand.