Leaking dam worries residents

The residents of Madikeri town will have to get ready for shortage of water this summer. The leakage in Kootuhole check dam has resulted in decrease in water storage capacity.

The check dam was constructed by the Water Board. The water stored in the check dam may be sufficient for the month of March. But after March, the citizens might face shortage of water. As Kundamestri project is progressing at snail’s pace, it is doubtful whether the work would be completed this year.

The CMC has taken measures to check the leakage by constructing sand bunds. However, it has not been of much use.

There are 36,000 people residing under CMC limits and about three lakh litre water is required everyday. A majority of the water is supplied from Kootuhole.

As the inflow of water to Kootuhole is less during summer, a majority of the wells and borewells go dry in the vicinity. The residents have been urging the CMC to repair the check dam at the earliest.