District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has called for a detailed progress report on the Jalasiri 24×7 drinking water project for Mangaluru city, which began in 2019 and was supposed to be completed by May 2023. At a Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting on Friday, officials reported that only 45% of the project has been completed. The minister expressed frustration, noting that out of the planned 1,280km of pipeline, only 700km has been laid so far.
The ADB-funded Jalasiri project, with an estimated cost of Rs 792 crore, had its deadline extended to May 2024. However, with the current pace of progress, officials from the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) now anticipate completion by March 2025. MLC Ivan D’Souza criticized the project for not only being incomplete but also for the lack of road restoration after pipeline installation.
Officials pointed out that delays in shifting utility lines have significantly hampered progress. Minister Rao criticized the substantial delay and declared that the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner would be held accountable. “I will personally inspect the works and hold a review meeting soon,” the minister stated, requesting a comprehensive report on the project’s status.
In the meantime, Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat CEO Anandh K provided an update on the Jal Jeevan Mission, highlighting that the district aims to provide drinking water connections to 90,388 houses. “We have already connected 53,297 households, and work is ongoing to connect the remaining 37,091 houses,” he added.