Use 2 MGD water from Lakhya dam, MCC told

Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim has directed the Mangalore City Corporation to utilise 2MGD water from Lakhya dam, which is drawn by the KIOCL for its units in Panambur.

The deputy commissioner has officially ordered that water lifted by the KIOCL for its unit should be used for drinking water purpose only, “The water will be linked to the Panambur pumphouse should be supplied to the residents of Surathkal. The water from Lakhya dam will be used only during emergency situation,” he has said.

Lakhya Dam, located in the Kudremukh National Park area, was built across a stream by KIOCL to store ore sediments. After the KIOCL stopped its operations in Kudremukh, following the orders of the Supreme Court, the KIOCL obtained permission from the Supreme Court to use 2 MGD water a day for its unit in Mangaluru. The pipeline that used to transport iron ore now brings water through gravitational force.

Ibrahim said that the sources of water have dried in the district and the water-level in Thumbe vented dam has reached 4 feet. The water-level is reaching the dead-storage level and the authorities would find it difficult to supply water to the citizens.

‘Suspend constructions’

The officer has directed the Corporation Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna to issue an order to suspend the construction activities on a multi-storey building for 15 days. The town planning section of the MCC should ensure that the order is implemented effectively, he added.

The deputy commissioner also instructed the Corporation to identify open wells and borewells on campuses of educational institutions and submit a requisition letter to use the water.

“The officials should identify one borewell and open well in each ward, to supply water to the ward residents. The list of open wells and borewells should be submitted to the district administration by Thursday evening. The water from the borewell of under-construction apartments could be used for supplying water to the citizens,” said the official order.

Corporation Deputy Commissioner (Development) N Shivashankar Swami said that 90 open wells have been identified in the Corporation limits, of which 41 wells have been cleaned. “Out of 29 new borewell points, 17 borewells have been dug and pumps have been installed to eight borewells to supply water. The process to install pumps to eight borewells is in progress,” he informed.

The Corporation can also appeal to the public to register the sources of water in their vicinity for public use.

The deputy commissioner said that if any private water tanker suppliers charge exorbitant fees for supplying water, then strict action will be initiated against such suppliers. “The Corporation will confiscate the vehicle as well as the water source from where they lift water to supply. Groundwater is the resource of the state,” he warned.

Water to MCF

The deputy commissioner directed the Corporation to make an arrangement to supply water to Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers, as it is the only urea-producing firm in the state.

“The shutdown of the MCF will hit the supply of urea in the state. In a letter to the district administration, MCF has said that urea production has been stopped from May 7 due to non-supply of water to the MCF, in view of depletion of water-level in Thumbe vented dam,” said Ibrahim. Mayor Harinath and Deputy Mayor Sumitra were present on the occasion.