Plan in advance to avert summer water crisis: Minister tells officials

Mangaluru: District minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed the need to protect Mangaluru from a drinking water crisis during the peak summer months.Offering Ganga Puja to the Netravathi at the Thumbe vented dam Wednesday, he said weather forecasts indicate a harsh summer and a possible delay in monsoon onset. He directed officials to take all necessary precautions to ensure the city's water supply.
"Authorities must plan in advance for water distribution over the coming months and ensure an adequate supply at least until June," he said.Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) officials said water is currently impounded to a height of 6 metres at the Thumbe vented dam, which has a total capacity of 10.49 million cubic metres (MCM). There is still some inflow. Apart from MCC's 60 wards, water is supplied to Thumbe, Pudu and Adyar gram panchayats. About 0.26 MCM is lifted daily to serve Mulki and Ullal CMC limits.Officials said that even without additional inflow, the present 6-metre level can meet demand for about 39 days. If the level drops further, water will be released from upstream dams. MCC limits have 140 borewells, and more will be drilled if needed. Open wells will be cleaned and kept ready as a contingency.On the Jalasiri project, officials said 63% of the work is complete. The project, originally scheduled for completion by May 24, 2023, was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pending permissions from the National Highways Authority and the Railway Department, issues involving the New Mangalore Port Authority, and land acquisition hurdles. The deadline was extended to Nov 23, 2025, and the contractor has now sought a further extension till Dec 31, 2026.Of the 52.5 km clear-water transmission main pipeline, 44.6 km has been laid. Of the 1,155.3 km distribution network, 868.8 km is complete. Of the 19 proposed overhead tanks, three are commissioned, civil works on 14 are complete, one is under way, and one has not started due to land-related issues, officials added.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !