Of all the taluks in Kolar district, Mulbagal was not expected to face drinking water shortage. The taluk is known for its water resources management and conservation.
However, this year the acute shortage of drinking water has not spared even the taluk.
Every village in the five hoblis in the taluk, viz Duggasandra, Avani, Tayalur, Byrakoor and Kasaba face the problem of drinking water.
Barring a few villages, almost all the 382 villages in the taluk reel under the problem. In some villages lack of proper maintenance of drinking water resources has led to the crisis. In some others, electricity issues have only aggravated the problem.
According to Vishwanath Shetty of the Engineering division of the Zilla Panchayat, as many as 160 borewells have been sunk since November last year to ensure proper supply of drinking water in the rural areas. Of them, he says, 25 have failed. There is a growing demand from most villages to sink borewells.
Water is being supplied in tankers to as many as 45 villages in the taluk, says Dr Venkataswamy, Chief Executive Officer of Taluk Panchayat. According to him, the problem of drinking water shortage is serious in most villages of the taluk.
“If it doesn’t rain within a week, the ability of the taluk administration in meeting the requirement, will be stretched to its limits,” he adds.
Amidst stories of water shortage comes a good news from Chamareddyhalli in Kasaba hobli. Villagers here face no water shortage here as Non-Resident Indians of the village have built a gigantic water tank here.
Though borewells have been sunk in P Venkatapura, they have failed to yield water. Not enough drinking water is being supplied to this village. People in Sonnawadi, Kavathanahalli, Gummalapura and Manchiganahalli are totally dependant on borewells for water.
When power goes off, there will not be even a single pot in around the borewells in many villages of the taluk. However, the picture changes completely as soon as the electricity supply restores. Hundreds of men and women swarm the borewells with their pots trying to fetch some drinking water.
Mandikal Colony, Timmaravutanahalli, V Kurubarahalli, Motakapalli, Jangama Hosahalli, Nangali, Hanumanahalli and other villages are being supplied water. Drinking water is being supplied in tankers to M Agrahara in Hanumanahalli panchayat, Kashipur in Balla panchayat, Shetty Banakanahalli and other villages.
The situation is expected to deteriorate if doesn’t rain in the next few days.
DH News Service