Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 31: Water shortage has reached crisis-like situation in the city and immediate steps are needed to address the situation. The officials now seem to be busy with election-related work and hence the officials and legislators are not listening to water woes, people complain.

It is a common phenomenon for wells, bore wells and River Swarna which supplies water to the city, going dry during the months of April and May every year. Long term water augmentation plans have not yet been executed, and municipal authorities are forced to distribute water presently available among the citizens. At present, water is being supplied to different wards once in three days.

However, this is creating problems for areas like Ajjarkad, Brahmagiri, Bannanje etc which are located at higher altitudes as water does not reach these areas properly for want of pressure. Municipal commissioner, Anand Kallolikar, said that the municipality will soon begin a helpline to respond to water needs quickly and steps would be taken to supply water through tankers after discussing the issue with the deputy commissioner.

At Baje dam across Swarna river, water level has slumped from five metres last year to 3.98 metres now. The officials said that pumping time has been now brought down to 20 hours from previous 24 hours. This may lead to crisis-like situation in about two weeks unless the catchment areas of the river get good rains by then. The municipality in the meanwhile, may have to earmark huge funds to supply water through tankers to several parts of the city.