Multi-village drinking water schemes for Udupi dist

Multi-village drinking water schemes for Udupi dist

Mangalore Today News Network

May 04, 2016: Udupi district, which generally faces water crisis from March to June, is set to implement the multi-village drinking water scheme. The drinking water scheme is likely to be a blessing for areas facing acute shortage of water this summer.

Zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer Priyanka Mary Francis told media that the scheme will be introduced at Nada, Yedthare, Chara, Hejmadi, Tenkanidiyur, Heergana and other villages.  She said 20 proposals have been sent to the government. Among them, two proposals are in the stage of technical approval, three are in detailed project report (DPR) stage and eight others are in primary survey stage (PSR).

Pilot projects : The pilot projects at Nitte and Hebri will prove useful to the people in the area.
The project work at Hebri is nearing completion though it has taken more time than expected for implementation.

Another project at Nitte has been completed and the government has taken up the second phase and the work is underway, said the chief executive officer.

Project costs :  Projects  estimated to cost Rs 30.5 crore, has been proposed at Nada and surrounding villages. The DPR is ready.   The project taken up at Yedthare is at the tendering stage, while the one at Chantaru and surrounding nine villages, taken up at a cost of Rs 49.5 crore, is also in a similar stage, she added.

The project dedicated to areas in and around Tenkanidiyur is estimated to cost of Rs 35 crore and the DPR is ready. The project for Shivapura is worth Rs 1.35 crore. The one proposed at Yerlapadi will cost Rs 1.25 crore.

A project worth Rs 3.75 crore is planned in Meeyaru and Rs 16.79 crore will be spent on the project for Kalavara and Hombadi. A water project in Yerlapadi will be taken up at 1.25 crore, in Kukkundur at a cost of Rs 1.3 crore, in Marne and Hermunde at a cost of Rs 1.3 crore. Primary survey is being carried out for these areas. Water project for Kadthala is estimated to cost Rs 1.2 crore and for Heergana, it is Rs 1.25 crore.

At least, Rs 40 crore is required annually to solve water crisis in the district as the water scarcity is severe, she added.

The ZP CEO said a proposal for separate allotments has been made to the government under the scheme.

“It is very essential as the groundwater level is depleting. The proposed Varahi water project is envisioned to cover Kundapur and Brahmavar. At present, the water flows only to some villages in and around Siddapur,” she stated.

Significance : Most of the villages are deprived of pure drinking water. A majority of the houses in villages depend on wells and borewells. In summer, the water bodies dry up due to evaporation and are polluted. The zilla panchayat is compelled to take initiatives to provide safe and pure drinking water to villagers and the multi-village drinking water projects are the only way out to solve the water woes, the zilla panchayat officials said.

She also said the zilla panchayat wants to create awareness on rainwater harvesting among the people towards solving the water woes.  Zilla panchayat president Dinaker Babu said the priority during his tenure will be on creating awareness on rainwater harvesting among the masses.