MCC council meet – water crisis leads to intense debate

MCC council meet – water crisis leads to intense debate

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 31, 2012: BJP and Congress corporators got into an argument regarding the politicization of the water crisis currently faced by the city during the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) council meeting held on March 31 Saturday. 

 

 

Yesterday, the BJP councilors had walked out before Mayor Gulzar Banu could present the budget. Today, they questioned the validity of the budget, which led to heated debate in the house. Peace was restored only after they pointed fingers of blame at one another for one hour. According to the BJP, Mayor Gulzar Banu is responsible for the water crisis in the city, an allegation that caused intense argument between the two parties. 

When N. Yogish Bhat and Mayor Gulzar Banu made contradictory statements regarding the water problem, things got worse and everybody started speaking at the same time. When the mayor stated that the water in Thumbay dam was sufficient for the summer, Yogish Bhat said that the water will last only for 9 days. 

Speaking on the occasion, Harish Kumar, the commissioner of the MCC, said that the water crisis is because of reduced rainfall in catchment areas of River Kumaradhara and Nethravathi last year and the high humidity this year, which has led to early evaporation of the water in the dam.

He also said that the water level has gone up now that the MRPL is not allowed to draw half the water it originally used to draw. Further, he said that the civic body is mulling over the idea of pumping in water from Lakhya dam in the neighboring district. 

He also urged people to reduce their use of water to deal with water crisis during the summer. The civic body has also decided to release water to Moodubidri and Mulky only on alternative days, he added.