ENARADA, Mysore, April 25, 2014
The Number of villages in Mysore District has been facing drinking water crisis as the summer seasons having reached its peak this year.
There is a sharp decline in the groundwater level in several villages of Mysore taluk, resulting in no water in borewells. Drinking water is being supplied through tankers to about 50 villages in various parts in the taluk
Under the multi-village water supply scheme, work on supplying Kabini waters to 27 villages in Mysore and 3 villages in Nanjangud taluks, is in progress.
“The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, which is implementing the scheme, expects to complete the project by November this year,” P.A. Gopal, Chief Executive Officer, Mysore Zilla Panchayat, said in a release here.
Mr. Gopal said a proposal had been sent to the State government seeking approval to include another 11 villages in Mysore and Nanjangud taluks under the scheme. The approval is awaited, he said.
As the water supply had been affected 55 villages in Nanjangud taluk since a motor pump at the supplying station had broken down, steps were taken to supply water through tankers to them.
In all the taluks of Mysore district, 24×7 control rooms had been set up to address drinking water problems. Steps have been taken to ensure supply of drinking water to villages immediately, after receiving complaints at the control room from residents, he said.
As the election model code of conduct is in force, permission would be sought from the Election Commission to implement the drinking water projects in various tribal hadis in the district. About 74 schemes, costing Rs. 130.45 lakh, were due for implementation in hadis (settlements), the release said.
There was a provision to use the Rs. 300 lakh sanctioned to the Deputy Commissioner of Mysore by the State government under the drought-relief programme, for laying pipes, repair and purchase of new pumps, hydro-fracturing, re-drilling of borewells and others. The funds would be used to address water problems in affected villages, the release added.
Dipping Water level at KRS
Meanwhile the water level at Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has dipped to 88ft. with the maximum level being 124.80 ft. Last year, water level of the KRS was 70.63 feet.
The reservoir supplies drinking water to Mysore, Mandya, Ramanagaram, Bangalore and some districts in Tamil Nadu.
The Cauvery Niravari Nigam Ltd., officials have clarified that there was no need to worry now as the reservoir has sufficient water to meet the requirements of people in Bangalore and other districts.
They added that the water level in the reservoir is expected to increase in the coming days as the catchment areas in the Cauvery basin were expected to receive copious rains shortly.
