Residents stage protest over severe water crisis

MANGALURU: Residents of Jayanagara in Jalligudde, led by CPI(M), held a protest in front of the mayor's chamber inside Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) building seeking solution for drinking water crisis.
CPI(M) Mangaluru City South committee secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said nearly 200 families residing in Ward number 53 - Jayanagara, are deprived of basic facilities, especially drinking water supply."The drinking water supply was completely stopped for the past 20 days and the authorities have not taken measures to reinstate the connection. Residents are made to drink rain water harvested using vessels and barrels. The matter has been brought to the notice of authorities concerned. City corporation's water tankers supply water to residents on the roadside, but majority of the families are left out," Bajal alleged.
He criticized mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred, ward corporator Sumaiya and other officials for not taking initiatives to solve the drinking water crisis.
"We will continue our protest in front of the mayor's chamber tomorrow, if alternative arrangements are not made immediately," he warned.
When residents led by CPI(M) leaders continued their protest, the mayor, deputy mayor Purushotham Chithrapur, chief whip in MCC council Shashidhar Hegde, MCC deputy commissioner (administration) Gokuldas Nayak and deputy commissioner (development), and N Shivashankar Swami came to pacify them.
The mayor said that large tanks will be kept in the ward and water will be supplied continuously till the repair work is complete. Officials said that the water supply was disrupted as the main pipe that connects the ward was blocked near the railway level cross in Bajal. Officials said that the repair work may be completed soon.