Public heave sigh of relief as Kootuhole water-level goes up

The Kootuhole almost dried up and the City Municipal Council (CMC) was making all efforts to supply drinking water when ‘Laila’ stormed Bay of Bengal to saved the residents of Kodagu.

The heavy rains in the catchment areas nave increased the water-level of Kootuhole, the main source of water supply to the residents of Kodagu, by four feet. The present water-level is enough to supply water to the town on alternative days till the month end. However, steps will be taken to supply water in tankers to certain areas like Kannadambane and Putani Nagar where there is severe shortage of water, said CMC Commissioner K Srikanth Rao and Standing Commitee President Prakash.

As the CMC envisioned the water problem in the month of March itself, the CMC took steps to supply water to the citizens on alternative days right from March itself. It was estimated that the available water would be sufficient till the first week of March.

However, the timely rains then, increased the water-level in Kootuhole by 2.5 feet. Later, it
was estimated that the water can be managed till May 23, but the water-level went down y the third week. However, the cyclonic storm ‘Laila’ in Bay of Bengal helped the residents of Kodagu as it started raining in Kodagu.

Meanwhile, the ambitious project ‘Kundamestri’ which is aimed at providing permanent solution to drinking water problem of Kodagu, too is moving in a snail’s pace. Though tenders have been called to implement Rs 6.5 crore phase I work on the project, the delay in release of funds by the Central government have further delayed the implementation of the project.