DYFI activists try to picket MCC office; court arrest

DYFI members staged a protest in front of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) office on Thursday, accusing the MCC Mayor and the officials of succumbing to the water tanker lobby and implementing unscientific water rationing.

DYFI state president Munir Katipalla said there is enough water in Thumbe dam for the MCC to supply water everyday. “After the rationing started, some areas have not been getting water for five days as the MCC officials only consider the days when the water is pumped. In reality, when the water is pumped between inordinate gaps, the water does not reach some areas,” he complained.

He criticised the drilling of borewells in several wards and said that it will deplete the groundwater level soon. Munir meanwhile alleged that the MCC has not done any water rationing for MRPL and SEZ. “MLAs J R Lobo and B A Mohiuddin Bava have turned a blind eye at the problem of water scarcity. The MCC has become an abode of corrupt officials and elected representatives. They are hand-in-glove with the water tanker lobby,” he accused.

CPI(M) Mangaluru South secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal that the MCC has created an artificial shortage of water. Last year, the officials misused crores of rupees from the funds released for drilling of borewells and repairing wells.

The protesters, shouting slogans against MCC administration, tried to picket the MCC office. The police arrested and released them later. Leaders Santhosh Shaktinagar, Santhosh Bajal and Sadik Kannur were present among others.