District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai has directed officials to release water from Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) storage tank to Thumbe dam.
Chairing a review meeting at DC’s office here on Thursday, he said according to his information, around 140 MLD (million litres per day) water is stored by MSEZ. This includes both treated water and pure water. Steps will be taken to provide pure water to the city, he said.
Rai directed the officials of MSEZ to let them use stored pure water. A team of officials will visit the storage tank and check the quantity of water, he added.
The minister told the zilla panchayat officials to ensure that the borewells are repaired. Private borewells can also be borrowed on rent, he stated.
Officials of zilla panchayat, Mescom and executive officers of taluk panchayats must work in co-ordination, he said.
He suggested about categorising Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) wards into four parts, according to the seriousness of problem. He also directed the MCC to start a helpline for water supply.
Dredging
MCC Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna said water in Thumbe dam will last for 20 days, if water is supplied for once in three days, provided dredging is carried out to remove the sand settled in the dam. Efforts will be made to draw water till level zero after dredging. There is five foot five inches of water in Thumbe dam at present and 4.5 feet is filled with sand, he added.
MCC Executive Engineer Lingegowda and Deputy Commissioner (Development) Shivashankar Swamy said the water level in Thumbe dam has increased by an inch after the water was released from MRPL dam.
Mayor Harinath said pick-up valves will be used to provide water to every ward.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said he has issued an order to prevent private entities from drilling borewells. Also, industries were restricted from using water and this ban has been extended till May 14. The ban on the use of water for agriculture purpose will also be extended, he added.
Health Minister U T Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shantigodu, Vice President Kasturi Panja, Zilla Panchayat CEO P I Srividya and ADC Kumar were present at the review meeting.
