Mangaluru: New city Mayor Kavitha Sanil who took charge on March 8 visited Thumbe and AMR dam surroundings and expressed satisfaction over the storage levels in the catchment areas to counter water woes during summer. However, she asked the citizens to use water judiciously to prevent recurrence of last year’s scenario.
Talking to reporters during Thumbe and AMR dam site visit, Kavitha Sanil said, “The Deputy Commissioner has already issued orders to MRPL, MSEZ and AMR Power Pvt Ltd not to lift water from the dams without getting due permission from the district administration” and added, “This has been done to give priority to meet the drinking water needs of the city.”
At the same time farmers in the dam catchment areas have been requested not to use water for agricultural crops and judiciously use the required quantity for horticultural crops wide circular dated March 8, 2017 by the DC, informing concerned departmental officials, Mayor clarified.
Keeping the above in view, MCC has stationed two engineers and two watchmen to keep tab on water usage on a daily basis at the dam sites. The water level in Thumbe dam is the highest ever since 10 years with the present level being 4.5 meters compared to 3.3 meters during the corresponding period last year. In Thumbe, the old vented dam is submerged now and the level in AMR dam is 18.5 feet.
The inflow into the dam from Nethravathi has completely stopped and the water levels are dropping by ½ feet on a daily basis, considering usage and evaporation factors. In addition, Bantwal TMC, Infosys, Mangalore University, two lift irrigation units and the agriculture department’s needs have to be met from the existing storage.
Finally, the Mayor asked the citizens to use water in required quantities only and avoid wastage till the situation improved.
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