Third dam in Manipal on the cards

Third dam in Manipal on the cards

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 8, 2015 :  Addressing media ,MLA Pramod’s Madhwaraj said that there were two dams at present across the Swarna — one at Baje and another at Shiroor villages — under the first and second stages of Swarna Drinking Water Scheme. The city required a stock of water for 120 days during the summer season. But the water stored in these dams was enough only for 70 days during the summer. On March 7 he said that a third dam would be constructed across river Swarna to augment drinking water supply to Udupi city.

The third dam or third stage would provide 50 days of water stock, bringing the total amount of stock to 120 days. The third dam would be constructed near End Point area in Manipal. Experts would be visiting the city shortly to study the location and other aspects of the third dam, he said.

To a query, MLA Madhwaraj said that if water from Varahi river reached Saibrakatte village, then it might be possible to get it to Udupi city.   The government had allocated Rs. 30 crore for improving drinking water facility in Udupi, while Rs. 50 crore would be spent on laying the underground drainage in the city.   The first preference would be given to lay underground drainage pipelines in Manipal and some parts of Udupi.

The proposal to form Greater Udupi by including  villages had been shelved for now,  due to staff shortage in the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC). No proposal for formation of Greater Udupi had been sent from the CMC to the State government. A full-time Commissioner for Udupi CMC would be appointed in April or May.

The State government had sanctioned works of Rs. 23.62 crore for Udupi Assembly Constituency under Nagarothana Scheme.   Udupi constituency stood first in the State in utilisation of funds under the Nagarothana Scheme, he said.

These included Rs. 1.8 crore for construction of Nalkur-Jomlu Road and Tenkanidiyur-Kodavoor Road as well as Rs. 2.24 crore for construction of Kadike-Hoode Road and Malpe-Thottam Bridge.  Several other matters of need were raised.