Water shortage in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, getting serious

Water shortage in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, getting serious

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 11, 2019: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are staring at a serious water crisis with the urban local bodies supplying the residents water once in two to three days.

 

According to DK DC Sasikanth Senthil, the Mangaluru City Corporation may have to ration the supply as the summer showers have failed in the region, especially the River Nethravathi catchment areas. Unprecedented evaporation has led to decline in water level in the Thumbe dam. 

Mangaluru city is yet to come to grips with the serious situation, wards of Surathkal – especially those situated at elevated locations – are getting water on alternate days. The authorities send tankers to Mucchooru and Kodikal areas in case of shortage.

In Ullal, the crisis is acute and tankers are pressed to service since March. The water level in about 70   borewells of Ullal City Municipality has declined drastically and have been struggling with water crisis.

Municipality Commissioner Vani V Alva said that  Rs 25 lakh has been alloted for controlling this crisis. Sinking borewells at Shivajinagara and Kallapu and flushing borewells with little water to clear silt or stone have been proposed.  The interior villages of Bijala, Olamogru, and Koila in Puttur taluk  face problems of distribution. Low voltage poses a hindrance for the supply of water, said a resident.

Areca : Plantations in Kabaka, Papemajalu, Badannur, Adyanadka, Uppalige, Kedambadi and Madavu, have areca inflorescence getting dry and drooping, which will affect the yield.

The flow of rivers Nethravathi and Kumaradhara has stopped completely in Uppinangady. Although the residents are not facing any drinking water problems as they are dependent on borewells, problems may arise if the wells go dry in the coming months.

Residents of Allipade in Sarapady Gram Panchayat, where River Nethravathi flows, are also facing crisis. River Payaswini too has gone dry in Sullia and water is supplied from borewells. In Sullia town, the authorities supply water on alternate days.

Baje :  In the Baje dam, the fall in water level has led the Udupi City Municipal Council to supply water once in three days.  Farmers who were dependent on River Suvarna near the dam for their crops have been forced to disconnect the pump sets in their plantations.  The government employee quarters at Doddanagudde, Mission Compound,  PWD employee quarters behind the DC office in Udupi too are facing acute water crisis. The shortage and problem is likely to get intense.