Lack of Inflow in Thumbay Dam Mangaluru Could Face Water Crisis
Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) could force water rationing, if the catchment areas of Dakshina Kannada do not receive rain at the earliest, resulting in the city facing a severe water crisis. Briefing the media, MCC Mayor Jayanand Anchan said that the MCC’s dam at Thumbay in Bantwal taluk has water to a level of 5.95m, against its maximum storage capacity of 6m. However, there is no inflow in the Netravati River, which may affect the dam’s storage. Engineers of the city corporation have been asked to prepare an action plan for April and May, he said.
Mayor further said “If the region receives pre-monsoon showers in March-April, then the city may not face a water crisis. If the catchment areas fail to get rain, then the MCC will have to go in for the rationing of water. At present, we cannot predict the availability of water in May. However, people should use water judiciously and I request that drinking water should not be used for washing vehicles, and watering plants in gardens”.
Chief whip of the ruling party in MCC council, and former Mayor Premanand Shetty, said “The AMR dam situated upstream of Thumbay dam, has maximum water in it. In case the water level in Thumbay vented dam reduces drastically, water will be released from the AMR dam, to fill the Thumbe vented dam. There are two more dams upstream of the AMR dam that is producing hydroelectricity. Water from those dams can also be released through the intervention of the district administration if the situation worsens”.
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It is learnt that currently, water from Thumbe dam is being supplied to Mangaluru city, Ullal, Mulki and other villages. While the height of the Thumbay dam is 7m, storage is maintained at 6m. The water level on Friday was 5.95m.
