Third dam across Swarna to supplement water supply in Udupi

Third dam across Swarna to supplement water supply in Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Apr 09, 2016: Speaking at the inaugural of various development works worth Rs. 1.32 crore at the Mannu Palla Lake; Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi MLA, said that a third dam will be built across the Swarna at Shimbra here to address the drinking water problem in Udupi city.

The works completed at the lake included silt-removal, fencing of the lake area, construction of a water tank, installation of solar lamps, dustbins and boards.   The total area of this picturesque lake is about 100 acres, including 40 acres of land with shady trees surrounding it.  MLA Madhwaraj said that some areas in the up-lying areas of the city were not getting drinking water. Hence, a third dam across the Swarna will be constructed at Shimbra. Now, water is being supplied to the city from the two dams built across the Swarna — at Baje and Shiroor.

Most parts of Manipal ward in the city did not have underground drainage system. Some parts of this ward suffered from drinking water problem. The State government had sanctioned Rs. 300 crore under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Project (KUDCEMP). Of this Rs. 300 crore, Rs. 100 crore would be spent for improving water supply.

The balance amount would be spent on construction of underground drainage system. But a detailed project report for the underground drainage system was yet to be completed. The construction of an underground drainage system in Manipal required land acquisition in some places.

The land which required to be acquired had been identified. But whenever the survey work was taken up, the residents were not willing to give up their land for the underground drainage system. “We urge the people to cooperate with the authorities as far as land acquisition was concerned,” he said.

Besides Manipal, the underground drainage system would be extended to Kodavoor, Puttur, Herga and Badagabettu area. Meenakshi Bannanje, City Municipal Council president, Sandhya Kumari, municipal vice-president, Narsimha Nayak, Ganesh Nergi, councillors, Janardhan Tonse, Zilla Panchayat member, D. Manjunathayya, municipal Commissioner, and Arun Kumar, Project Director of Nirmiti Kendra, participated.