CMC chief bats for water rationing in Udupi

City Municipal Council President Yuvaraj has said that rationing of water  has become a necessity, in view of possible shortage in the coming days.

CMC President was responding to the allegations made by the opposition BJP members on the shortage of level in both the reservoirs. Speaking to mediapersons, he said that the reservoirs have the capacity to store water up to 70 days only, as against the requirement of 120 days.

The CMC is also providing water to seven Gram Panchayats from Baje reservoir along with other areas coming under the CMC limits, he stressed.

Yuvaraj added that  6.5 MLD water is lifted from Swarna 1st stage project. Water was supplied on every alternate day even during the tenure of the BJP.

In 2013, the then BJP administration started supplying water on every alternate  day from March 26, but in 2012 they started supplying from May 10 only.

However, the water connections were barely 10,000 in 2012.

About 7,000 additional connections have been added to the existing connections. The measure on rationing of water was taken to reduce the burden on the citizens in the month of May.

Besides, sand bags have been placed as a temporary bund  to control the overflow of  water  in order to enable supplying of water for additional 20 days.

No dry areas in CMC

The president affirmed that there was no shortage of water within the CMC limits including those in elevated areas.

“The Swarna 2nd  stage is  a failure and had the previous government would have taken measures to complete Varahi project, the district would not have faced water scarcity,” Yuvaraj pointed.

Currently, the total number of water connections are 16,914, of which 15,288 are household connections and 1,626— commercials connections. About 27 MLD of water is pumped everyday. 

BJP on protest path

Meanwhile, a team of BJP- led by City Municipal Council opposition leader M R Pai, former MLA Raghupathy Bhat and other councillors held a spot inspection of Shiroor and Baje dams, the main source of drinking water for the City Municipal Council wards. M R Pai further said that a fact-finding committee of the party would prepare a report on the matter and submit it to the Deputy Commissioner.

Raghupathy Bhat criticised that water rationing which is in place since March 7, was due to the mismanagement of drinking water supply as there was sufficient water in Baje dam which could be supplied for another three months.

“Because of the  dredging in Shiroor reservoir, the flow of water is blocked and is not flowing to Baje dam,” he said. 

 “There is sufficient water in Baje dam. But as gate valves at Shiroor were not opened yet, the water is getting evaporated and did not flow till Baje dam. This is nothing but mismanagement of water,” he alleged. He also added that the BJP will take up a protest against the Congress led City  Municipal Council, on the  issue.
DH News Service