Water Supply to City Timings Changed, 4 days on, 2 days off – Kavitha Sanil
Mangaluru: “Hereafter water will be supplied continuously for four days followed by two days without the supply of water in the city. Last year Rs 52 lakhs was spent for borewells and wells to supply water to the people of the city which should not occur this year. We have taken all the measures to avoid the scarcity of water”, said the Mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation Kavitha Sanil in a press meet held at the Thumbay Vented dam premises here on April 8.
After visiting the Thumbay dam and inspecting the water level Mayor Kavitha Sanil addressed the media and said, “The inflow of water has completely stopped. At present, there is 4.64 meter water in the Thumbay dam and 17.73 meter water in the AMR dam. If we supply water for 4 days and stop the supply for 2 days we can manage to provide water during this critical period.
She urged the people of Mangaluru city not to waste water. The opposition is criticizing that “There is 15-meter water in the dam which is sufficient but the Mayor acting like a dictator in suppling water”, which has hurt me a lot. Last year we had spent Rs 52.75 lakh only for digging borewells. It is taxpayers money which was spent to provide water to the city. When there was water scarcity we have spent the money but this year, I do not want to waste the taxpayer’s money, so we are efficiently managing the supply of water. Because of the negligence of some officers we had spent taxpayers money last year. When I took charge as the Mayor of MCC, I immediately visited the Dam and later discussed the issue with the concerned officials to provide water during the critical period.”
Kavitha also said, “As soon as I took charge as the Mayor, the DC informed the commissioner of MCC to manage the supply of water during the critical period. When the DC discussed the matter with the MLA, he too said that it will be very difficult to ration the supply of water at this point. But when the DC said that he will not be held responsible if people face problems due to the scarcity of water. Later on March 20, we started to manage the supply of water with a couple of days off and on system. The decision was taken collectively along with all the 60 ward corporators. I am not dictating here since I have taken charge as the Mayor on March 9. The opposition should wait for at least three months to comment on my performance. People of Mangaluru city are intellectuals, the opposition should not play water politics. We want the people to get the supply of water until there are sufficient rains”.
Kavitha also demanded a clarification from the opposition for their allegation of “tanker Lobby”. “I am not into any lobby, the opposition also has the responsibility to solve the water crisis. They should not play politics with the water issue. If there are rains earlier, we will withdraw the water rationing system. During the first week of May, we need to have 5 meters of water for the uninterrupted supply of water”, she said.
When asked whether the MCC providing water to MSEZ and MRPL, Kavitha said, “I do not know whether the water is being provided to MSEZ and MRPL. But I know that we have reduced the quantity of water supplied to MRPL and MSEZ. We have not received any orders to stop the supply of water to MRPL and MSEZ.”
MLA J R Lobo, Sashidhar Hegde, Mahabala Marla, Sabitha Misquith and others were also present.