Udupi residents unlikely to face water crisis

The residents of the town are unlikely to face water crisis this summer, thanks to sufficient water having been impounded in Baje dam.

Every year, rivers, wells and lakes go dry towards the end of March. According to the City Municipal Council officials, there is enough water in the dam so far, as the district received good rainfall during 2018 monsoon. Udupi had faced acute water crisis in April – May 2017. With the pre-monsoon shower lashing in April – May 2018, however, the residents did not feel the pinch of water crisis.

Barring a few technical faults and damage to pipelines during road widening work in town, water is being supplied to the residents daily. The officials said, “If the project to supply Varahi water to Udupi town turns successful, then the residents will get water round-the-clock. An additional 41 MLD water will be lifted from the Baje dam daily for supply once the Varahi project is implemented.”

Sources in the City Municipal Council said, “There are plans to construct seven additional overhead tanks in Udupi and Manipal to store water. The Varahi project will supply water to an additional 15,000 households, 2,500 commercial connections and 75 industrial units.”

Anand Kallolikar, City Municipal Council Commissioner, “The water impounded in the dam will last for four months. All the technical problems in the water supply system are being attended to immediately by the officials in order to ensure water supply to the Udupi citizens.”