'Apathy of Udupi DC, CMC chief aggravated water crisis'

BJP district unit President Mattar Rathnakar Hegde blamed district administration and Udupi CMC for precipitating the water crisis in Udupi town.

Hegde told mediapersons on Friday that the desilting works should have been taken up in January. However, the lackadaisical attitude of the deputy commissioner and the CMC commissioner aggravated water crisis in the district. The poor management of water and utter negligence are twin reasons behind the severe shortage of water, he stressed.

He urged deputy commissioner to redress water crisis by taking up appropriate measures. The water levels in many dams are depleting fast. More than half of the city is deprived of drinking water supply for the past one week. He lauded the 'Shramadan' taken up by Udupi MLA and other volunteers in the River Swarna, near Baje reservoir. This would help in free flow of water to the Baje dam.

Hegde accused the district administration of not allowing Zilla Panchayat President Dinakar Babu, Vice President Sheela Shetty and Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje to access their respective offices under the pretext of election code of conduct.

"ZP Presidents and vice presidents in Mysuru, Kodagu and Bengaluru were allowed access to their office. Why a different rule is being followed in Udupi district?," he asked.

Hegde asserted that they would request central government to release additional compensation to the families of missing fishermen of Suvarna Thribhuja tragedy.

Hegde said a maximum compensation of at least Rs one crore will be sought from the central government. A demand will also be put before the authorities to retrieve the boat as it would help in thorough investigation of the mishap, he added.