Udupi : The issue of drinking water scarcity dominated the general body meeting of Udupi City Municipal Council at Satyamurthi Hall here on Friday, March 31

Raising the issue, Yashpal Suvarna, Opposition Councillor said that while CMC had announced that it would be supplying water to the city on alternate days, water had not been supplied in few areas for more than 8 to 10 days.

BJP councilor, Harish Ram too voiced his support to Yashpal Suvarna stating that there is acute shortage of water in various city wards and they would face severe water problems. Further he added that the CMC must act now to tackle the water scarcity and to ensure equal supply of water for each ward with two months still pending for the rains.

Janardhan Bhandarkar and Ramesh Kanchan, both ruling Congress Councillors, intervened when Yashpal Suvarna started used abusive language in Tulu “Kullumbe” (Sit Down). The ruling party councilors demanded his apology and warned him not to use such language in coming days saying it was an insult to CMC. P. Yuvaraj, councillor said that the tradition of supplying water on alternate days to tide over summer crisis had started while the opposition BJP was in power in the CMC. The Congress had come to power just four years ago, he said.

Heated exchanges continued between both the ruling Congress and BJP councilors and opposition members rushed to the well of the council over the issue of using abusive languages. Ms. Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje had to struggle to restore order in the council.

Apprising the house on the water issue assistant executive engineer, Ganesh K said that the water level in Baje dam had gone down to 1.17 metre. The water storage in the Baje Dam was poor when compared to last year. The water available at the dam on March 30 was 3.31 metres. But last year the water level in the dam reached the 3.31 metre mark on April 24. At present 15 million litres of water per day (mld) was being pumped from the Baje dam, so that water in the reservoir lasts till at least June 5. The daily requirement was 23 mld, he said.

Reghvendra, Environmental Engineer said that at present every day 15mld of water is being used by around 355 apartments in city. The demand for water has been increasing and the source is getting empty. Hill station areas will not be able to get water in coming days this year and there are 70 complaints received in relation to this.

Prashant Amin, councilor said that the CMC should cut off water supply to the neighbouring gram panchayats during the time of water scarcity to the city and some councilors from both side gave support to him.

D. Manjunathaih, Muncipal Commissioner said that CMC has to give water supply to the gram panchayats en route and also to Bommarbettu Gram Panchayat since water was being lifted from a pit in the Swarna river bed at Mane Bridge coming under the Panchayat limits. Alevoor Grama Panchayat had to be provided water as the Solid Waste Management Plant of the CMC is located there. The CMC was holding talks with the Bammarbettu Grama Panchayat urging it to provide 70% of water near Mane Bridge, while the rest could be used by the latter, he said.

CMC President Meenakshi Bannanje said that a special CMC meeting would be held on Saturday, April 1 to discuss water issue at 3 pm.

Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje presided over the meeting, Sandhya Tilkraj vice president of CMC, D. Manjunathaiah Commissioner, Dr. M. A. Pai Opposition leader and almost all members of the council were present.