MANGALURU: The Mangaluru City Corporation has decided to supply water once in two days only from today following the scarcity of water in the Netravathi river.
Forests Minister and Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge B Ramanath Rai said in a statement that water would be supplied to industrial units and citizens on alternate days from today.
Industries like Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers and the New Mangalore Port would also get water once in two days.
The Minister said water storage at ‘Thumbe vented dam’ and at AMR Hydel Power Project’s vented dam at Shambhoor, on the upstream of Thumbe, was enough for supplying for only 12 days. If water was supplied on alternate days, drinking water could be supplied till May 12.
The Minister said water level at Thumbe dam on Monday stood at 9.6 ft. against the maximum full level of 13 ft. The water level was 12.7 ft the same day last year.
Water level at Shambhoor stood at 13.9 metres against the maximum level of 18.9 metres. The dam’s water level on the same day last year was 17.8 metres.
The deficit in rainfall in Dakshina Kannada was 12 per cent last year and its impact was being felt now. Mr Rai appealed to the people to use minimum water and not waste it.
Mayor Harinath said the corporation would stop supplying water to construction sites from Tuesday. The builders who were getting water from the corporation would have to make their own arrangements.
