NewsKarnataka -Bantwal
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Bantwal: The state urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake clarified the confusion over the height of new vented dam at Thumbay which supplies drinking water to Mangalore city that it will be only 7 meters, while the water will be stored only up to 4 meters till the issues of farmers who grow crops on their farmlands located besides the banks of Netravati River are sorted. A memorandum will be submitted to CM Siddaramaiah seeking additional funds to award compensation for the farmers whose farmlands run the risk of flooding, said minister Vinay Kumar Sorake.
The state minister Sorake was speaking during the progress review meeting related to the ongoing second phase of works on new vented dam across Netravati River at Thumbay, and much neglected underground drainage works in the limits of Bantwal town council, held at SJSY auditorium, B C Road, here on Sunday November 10 evening.The meeting was held at the earnest interest of Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai.
Minister Vinay Kumar offered assurances of supplying drinking water to 2 villages of Thumbay gram panchayat as per the plea of zilla panchayat members Mamatha Gatti and Chandrapakash Shetty. He further said that there are plans to supply drinking water not only to Mangalore city, but also to rural villages.
The local farmers leader Subramanya Bhat urged the ministers to instruct the concerned department in order to provide proper information on the farmlands that are likely to be submerged owing to the construction of new vented dam. He also urged the minister to announce the compensation for their farmlands that are likely to be submerged.
Minister Vinay Kumar in his replay said that a delegation comprising the district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and MLAs will meet CM Siddaramaiah in this regard. He also offered assurances of maintaining the water level of 4 meter in the new dam, despite its height of 7 feet.
Bantwal town councillor Vasanti, deputy councillor Yasmin, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Dayanand K A, Deputy Commissioner N Prakash, council chief officer Mattady and engineers of underground drainage works were present on the occasion.
