The zilla panchayat engineering division of Dakshina Kannada has proposed to draw more water from the River Nethravathi. It is for supplying drinking water to 176 villages in Dakshina Kannada using surface water from other rivers such as the Payaswini in Sullia and the Gowri Hole in Bellare along with Nethravathi. The authorities have already submitted 30 surface water schemes to the State government.
The Vision 2020 document which was submitted to the CM says “Though Dakshina Kannada receives on an average 4,200 to 4,400 mm rainfall, the people of the district continue to suffer from severe shortage of water during summer. Hence, there is a need for permanent water supply schemes to draw water from the rivers by building vented dams.”
It had proposed lifting surface water for 30 schemes by building vented dams as water level in many borewells supplying water to villages decrease in summer. It was creating water scarcity. The proposal is awaiting the final clearance from the government. Jack wells would be built upstream of vented dams. Water from jack wells would be lifted and treated before pumping to overhead tanks from where it would be supplied to existing network of pipelines in villages.
The total project cost is Rs 44681 lakh. The surface water schemes for Mangalore is three at the cost of Rs 6050 lakh, Bantwal—9 at the cost of Rs 11040 lakh, Puttur—8 at the cost of 19091 lakh, Sullia—4 at the ocst of Rs 400 lakh and Belthangady—6 at the cost of Rs 8,100 lakh.
Now the Nethravathi supplies water to Mangalore city, Mulky, Ullal and villages under Thumbe, Pudu and Adyar Gram Panchayats between the city and Thumbe. In addition, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) draws water from the river.
The proposed schemes are— Konaje and surrounding areas to supply waterfrom Nethravathi to Belma, Amblamogaru, Harekala, Kotekar, Manjanady, Munnur, Someshwar, Talapady and Kinya at the cost of Rs 4,300 lakh.
Golthamajalu and four villages to supply water to Narikombu, Shambhur, Golthamajalu, Amtoor, Balthila at the cost of Rs 1000 lakh.
Sarapady and 13 villages (Rs 2000 lakh), Sangabettu and 16 villages to draw water from Phalguni and Nethravathi (Rs 2000 lakh), Mani and three villages (Rs 650 lakh), Naringana and nine surrounding villages (Rs 1,400 lakh), Kolnadu and four villages (Rs 1965 lakh), Sajeepamunnur and four villages (Rs 1000 lakh), Kariyangala and three villages (Rs 500 lakh), Alike and three villages (Rs 525 lakh), Pucchamogaru and seven villages (Rs 1250 lakh), Jalsoor and three villages by drawing water from stream (Rs 100 lakh), Bellare Kottige by drawing water from Gowrihole (Rs 100 lakh), Ajjavara and three villages by drawing water from Payaswni (Rs 100 lakh), Sampaje and surrounding villages (Rs 100 lakh), Ulaibettu and three villages minor irrigation project (Rs 500 lakh), 34 Nekkiladi and three villages (Rs 1331 lakh), Savanoor and three villages (Rs 1200 lakh), Kedambadi and Keyyur (Rs 1030 lakh), Uppinangady and nine villages (Rs 3,500 lakh), Kadaba and 13 villages (Rs 4000 lakh), Koila and five villages (Rs 3,500 lakh), Kaniyur and four villages (Rs 3,500 lakh), Narimogaru and Shanthigodu (Rs 1030 lakh), Neriya and surrounding villages (Rs 800 lakh), Shishila and surrounding villahes (Rs 1600 lakh), Charmadi and surrounding five villages (Rs 1,200 lakh), Laila and surrounding six villages (Rs 1,500 lakh), Ilanthila and three villages (Rs 1000 lakh), and Aladangadi and 11 villages (Rs 2,000 lakh).