‘Set right fault in water distribution system’

Former MLA J R Lobo said that there is no scarcity of water in Mangaluru – merely, the faults in the water distribution system should be set right.

He was addressing a press conference at the District Congress Committee on Monday.

Lobo said that the present water rationing system that has been resorted to by the Mangaluru City Corporation supplies water for 96 hours before discontinuing it for the next 48 hours.

‘Unscientific’

“This system should be stopped. Also, halting lifting of water from the Thumbe dam for two days is not a scientific decision as the air locks formed in the pipes will prevent the free flow of water when the supply is resumed. This, in turn, will prevent easy supply of water to elevated parts of the city,” he pointed out.

Further, Lobo said, “If an overhead tank at Chilimbi is not filled fully, then the elevated areas that get water from the tank will naturally not get enough water. With the storing of water at the Thumbe vented dam increasing to six metres, the available quantity of water too has increased this year. The level at Thumbe dam stood at 5.21 metres on Monday, which is sufficient for distribution. The officials should supply water daily by regulating the timing of the supply.”

‘Repair borewells’

He also said that the City Corporation should not depend on Thumbe dam alone for its water requirement. “Instead, the available borewells in the jurisdiction of the Corporation should be mapped and the old and defunct borewells should be repaired. The distribution lines should be connected to the borewells that supply water to the residents,” he suggested.

The former legislator, who had also served as commissioner of the City Corporation, said that there are enough open wells in Mangaluru. “The Corporation should take up cleaning of the wells on a war-footing basis and make it available for public use,” he added.

“Pilferage of water en route the Thumbe vented dam should also be checked by supplying the required quantity of water in a systematic manner between Padil and Thumbe,” Lobo said.

Responsibility

He urged Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath to take the responsibility of ensuring effective water supply in the city. “There is no elected body in the City Corporation. The area is represented by the MLA. Instead of accusing the previous elected body of the Council of the Corporation, the legislator should act responsibly,” the former MLA demanded.

Former mayor Harinath said, “When the water level had touched 1 metre in the past, we had supplied water daily to the citizens. The problem has arisen due to the negligence of the officials. If the problem continues, the citizens may lay siege to the Corporation office.”

Another former mayor Mahabala Marla said that the officials who claimed in a meeting on March 10 that water in the AMR dam was in full capacity should now answer why the water level reduced to 1.5 metres in the dam.

The Congress leaders, led by Lobo, submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil.