MCC releases Thumbe reservoir water into sea

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 2:  The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has let the water of the Thumbe reservoir out into the sea, leaving the dam only half full, which means enough water to last the city a week. MCC usually lets out the water of the dam a fortnight before the monsoons. If this is not done, the pressure of the river Nethravathi raises and the dam could get damaged. 

Engineers in MCC’s water supply division informed reporters that opening all the 182 iron gates of the dam is heavy manual work and that the work is usually commenced about a week to 10 days before the monsoons after receiving confirmation from the met office. 

Mayor Rajani Dugganna said that the monsoons have never failed Mangalore for the past 25 years. Assuring people that they do not have to worry about water shortage, she said that only the half-level gates have been opened, leaving around 50 percent of the water in the dam, which is enough to satisfy the requirements of the city for more than 10 days. 

Mr. Puttaswamy, the met official, said that the monsoons will hit the coast of Kerala on June 1 and will advance into Karnataka in 3 - 4 days. The monsoons will take an additional 3 days to reach the Western Ghats, which means that water will begin flowing into the Thumbe dam within the next 10 days. 

Mr. Harinath, leader of the opposition in the MCC, said that the water supply division must deploy more people and have the sluice gates removed at the last minute instead of taking such a huge risk. 

Former Mayor Mr. Shashidhar Hegde said that one cannot depend on the monsoons, especially during these days of unpredictable weather. If, for any reason, the monsoons were delayed, Mangalore will face acute water shortage problems.