Water in Baje reservoir expected to last till May 19

MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj said the water level at Baje reservoir would ensure water only up to May 19.

The MLA said, at an emergency meeting with the officials to discuss water shortage problems, that the water level is 2.25 metres as against the previous year’s 3.17 metres.

“Udupi town had received a couple of showers during the period last year. As there is acute water crisis, the drudging work in the reservoir will be taken up to ensure water supply till May 26. The problem would begin after that, and the administration is all equipped with the necessary arrangement,” he assured.

The water will be ensured either through pipeline or through tank water. The deputy commissioner has consented for the desilting work at the reservoir, Madhwaraj said.

He added that an emergency task force is set up with 29 officers in charge of all the 35 wards. “The officers will take care of the water supply and the public can approach them for water. The emergency task force would be under the senior engineer of City Municipal Council (CMC) and in constant touch with the councilors. There is water available in some areas from which the water would be lifted to provide to other parts of the city. The government wells at Manipal, Mudabettu, Kodankuru, Nittur, Indiranagar will be used for supplying water through tankers,” he added.

He said the commissioner will be held responsible for the lapse in ensuring water supply. “The evaporation level is too high. The water supply works would be managed scientifically and professionally. There is no scarcity of funds to supply water to both rural and urban areas. The public should collect water whenever the water is released through pipelines or tankers,” he advised.

Madhwaraj instructed the officers to install bulk water metres within one month to look into the input and output during the water supply and set right the loopholes.

“A caution letter will be issued to the public against the criminal charges levied for illegal water connections. Water Adalat will also be arranged in order to look into the illegal water connections and pending amount. As per the opinion of MD of KUDSEMP, the city does suffer dearth of water, however, the major loophole lies in the distributor channels. The officer should make it mandatory for the rain water harvesting unit to be set in newly built houses before issuing the licences,” he instructed.

The officer has said that the 70% of the storm water drains have been desilted in order to avoid blockages during monsoon. This would ensure free flow of water in the drains by avoiding the floods in the low lying areas, he said.