Mangaluru: Former MLA J R Lobo and former mayors and deputy mayors of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) questioned the move of water rationing by the district administration citing that Thumbe vented dam had enough storage and that the supply could be uninterrupted.  

Convening a press conference at the District Congress office on Monday, April 22, J R Lobo demanded that the existing water distribution method of continuous supply of water for four days and stoppage for the next two days must be stopped. “If the pumping of water from Thumbe vented dam is stopped for two days, it leads to airlock. Consequently, the pumping of water would be very difficult. Hence, water pumping should be done everyday and there should not be any water rationing”, he opined.

“The water level in the vented dam is about 5.21 meter as on today. When it was only 3.54 meter in the year 2016 during April, we have provided water to the public continuously. Now the water spread area is more and also the storage capacity of water. Then why are the officials opting for water rationing?”,  Lobo questioned.

‘Don’t depend on vented dam only’

Meanwhile, Lobo suggested some of alternative methods to address the drinking water problems. He informed about the need of using existing borewells and digging borewells in some selected areas. “Several open wells should also be desilted.  Instead of depending only on Thumbe vented dam, alternative sources of water should be utilised”, he said.

Coming down heavily on Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath , Lobo said, “Instead of simply blaming the MCC officials and corporators, Vedavyas should find out the alternative methods to provide water to the public. As the elected body of MCC is not functioning now, local MLA Vedavyas Kamath should take the responsibility of providing water to the public”, he said.

Former mayors and deputy mayors Bhaskar K, Shashidhar Hegde, Mahabala Marla, Lancelot Pinto, Mohammed K, Purushotham Chithrapur and Harinath among others were present.