Prepare contingency plan for water supply: MLA Lobo

MLA J R Lobo directed Mangaluru City Corporation engineering division to prepare contingency plan for water supply in the City.

He was speaking at a meeting to discuss plans for facing emergency in water supply, after restoring the water supply in the city, at MCC building on Thursday. Assistant Executive Engineer Naresh Shenoy said in spite of all efforts, the repair on the broken 18 MGD pipeline at Kannur was delayed because of rains and slush. “It took five days to clear the mud, which was about six metres in depth for one and half kilo metres,” he informed.

The MLA directed officials to remove mud on the water pipeline from Tumbe to the city at the earliest.
 
“Later survey can be carried out. Demarcations can be done, colour flags and plaques can be put to mark the borders,” he said.

“File FIR against those who have dumped mud to construct path for their property. Criminal case should be filed against the accused. Officials can avail the help of police department during clearance,” he instructed.

Lobo directed the officials to remove interlinks which pose danger to the water supply and check the skoverwall and air walls. “Documentation should be done on the availability of tankers. There should be a plan on utilizing private tankers like of MRPL, MCF, KMF during emergency,” he added.

The engineers said six motors, jackwellls, transforms and other machineries are proper at Tumbe vented dam.

Meanwhile, Naresh Shenoy urged to remove several interlinks and provide 2.25 MGD of water through a separate pipeline with a water metre to the Zilla Panchayat areas.

Even the MLA said “water can be released to ZP areas using a six inch pipeline with a gatewall. Water can be released for four hours in a day in a particular time. A joint meeting would be convened soon with the ZP and local residents,” he observed.

The MLA  said Mangaluru may get water from Lakya dam of Kudremukh. “Water supply can also be made possible from Malavoor dam of Marakkada after the completion of the pumping unit. Moreover, water management system should be improved in the city,” he said and expressed concern about the constructions on drinking water pipeline, UGD and open drains.  Earlier, Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred said no problem would occur in water supply in future. “There was a decrease in the water supply from Tumbe to Padil and during inspection a leakage was found in 18 MGD pipeline near Kannur masjid. Though it was repaired leakage was found in another pipe within six feet distance. The repair work was over by 10 am on Wednesday,” she pointed out.

MCC Commissioner (in-charge) Gokuldas Nayak and former mayor Shashidhar Hegde said the details over 3.5 metre pipeline corridor stretched in 11.36 acres is being collected. The people who have dumped mud have been identified. The details on land acquisition for pipeline and revenue department details would be verified. Action would be taken against them within a week. A separate cell would be formed for the maintenance of water pipeline, he said.

The MCC officials said at present there are two sites to dump debris- one at Kunjathabail and another at Kannur.

Quiz competition

As part of the Swacch Bharath campaign under the tag ‘Swacchh Bharatha Swachh Mangaluru’, a quiz competition was organized for schoolchildren at the MCC building.  Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, Opposition Leader Sudhir Shetty were present during the inauguration ceremony.