KIOCL to supply water to M'lore

Mangaloreans who are facing acute shortage of water, can heave a sigh of relief as the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd (KIOCL) has given ‘in principle’ approval to supply one MGD (million gallons a day) water per day from Lakya dam in Kudremukh to Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), said Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda.

The assurance comes a day after the DC held a meeting with the KIOCL authorities  on supply of water. Speaking to Deccan Herald, the DC said that the MCC will use the water only if Thumbe vented dam goes dry.

He said that water level at Thumbe dam on Monday stood at 9.1 ft against the maximum storage level of 13 ft. “The water in Thumbe dam would be enough to supply water till this month end.  If the catchment areas do not receive rainfall, then there will be no inflow of water into the dam and the problem of acute shortage of water might arise in the month of May.

Before the situation worsens, it would be better to find alternative source to supply water to Mangaloreans. Hence, we had written to the KIOCL to supply one MGD water to the MCC,” he said.

The DC said “at present KIOCL at Panambur draws 1.85 MGD water from Lakya dam.
The main pipelines of the KIOCL (which supplied water from Lakya dam) and the MCC (which supplied water to Mangalore North from Thumbe dam) pass through Panambur.

The company’s pipeline can be linked to the corporation’s main line at Panambur. Later, water can be treated and supplied to Surathkal, Panambur and other areas.