• District Minister G.T. Devegowda to hold emergency meeting at DC’s Office tomorrow
• Hit by severe water shortage, residents take protest route; burn tyres, block roads
• Corporation authorities say they are prepared to tackle drinking water woes
• Water level at KRS stands at 89 feet as against a maximum level of 124.80 feet

Mysuru: Several areas within Mysuru and those that touch the city borders including Hinkal, Mahalakshmi Layout, Nanneshwara Nagar, Tavarekatte village and surrounding areas are facing severe water crisis with public taps and borewells going dry and water being supplied through tankers. Lack of water and gruelling summer has forced residents to hit the streets with flash protests.

Realising the gravity of the situation, Mysuru District in-Charge Minister G.T. Devegowda will hold an emergency meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office tomorrow (Apr.29) at 10 am where the crisis situation will be discussed.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, the Minister said that several areas in city including Hinkal, Tavarekatte, Mahalakshmi Layout, Vijayanagar Third and Fourth Stage, Railway Layout, Housing Board Layout, Hootagalli, Bogadi, and Jayapura Hobli were reeling under severe water shortage.

“The meeting will be attended by In-charge Secretary of Mysuru District, IAS Officer Kalpana who will come from Bengaluru, Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, Zilla Panchayat CEO K. Jyothi, Water Board officials, MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag, Engineers and others. We will discuss the situation and take up measures to mitigate the crisis,” he said.

When asked whether the Election Model Code of Conduct would come in the way of the meeting, Devegowda said, “This is a meeting to discuss drinking water and Poll Conduct will not come in the way as we are not announcing any new projects. We are just looking at ways and means to solve the crisis with better management,” he said.

Residents hit streets

Yesterday, residents of Tavarekatte on the Chamundi foothill protested and burnt tyres on the road. They even placed empty pots on the road blocking traffic. As the protesters blocked the road leading to the Hill at the entrance arch, vehicles ferrying tourists and devotees were stranded for more than an hour. On Friday, the residents of Hinkal and Mahalakshmi Layout staged a protest at Mahalakshmi Layout opposing the apathetic attitude of the administration.

There are 150 families living in Tavarekatte village and according to residents, they have not received water since the last one week due to the damage to the water pipeline. Adding to their misery, even the borewells have gone dry.

Damaged pipeline

Residents have alleged that the water supplied through tankers was hardly enough for their drinking needs. After the water pipeline was damaged, the Chamundi Hill Gram Panchayat replaced it with new one. But the borewells have gone dry and the Panchayat is supplying water through tankers which is hardly sufficient for the residents.

Residents of Hinkal, Mahalakshmi Layout, Hootagalli, Bogadi, and Jayapura Hobli are reeling under severe water crisis and according to residents, they have not got public water since the last 20 days. “We are dependent on borewells, wells and Kalyanis for our drinking water needs. There is no water to take bath or wash clothes,” residents said.

There are 28 borewells in Hinkal and only five of them are in a working condition. Water is being supplied in tankers and they come in less frequency which is angering the residents.

Minister Devegowda said recently he had a meeting with the Water Board authorities to complete the pipeline work to Chamundi Hill. “We are seeing water problem every day in extension areas, including Hinkal, Bogadi and Railway Layouts. I have directed the authorities to provide water through tankers,”  he said.

“I have fought for the implementation of Hale Unduwadi Drinking water Project and even the State Government is keen on it. Till the project is complete, the situation will be the same during summer,” he said.

“Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Project, we are initiating to draw 60 MLD water from Hongalli and Meghalapura. The work will be completed in another three months and in two years, the Hale Unduwadi project will be completed and there will be no water problem in Mysuru for another 30 years,” Devegowda added.

KRS water level

The Mysuru region is mostly the Cauvery catchment area with the major dams being Harangi in Kodagu district, Hemavathi Dam in Hassan district, Kabini Dam in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district.

The South West Monsoon is still over two months away and the water level at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam, the main water source for Mysuru now stands at 89 feet as against a maximum level of 124.80 feet. The level is, however, better than the levels recorded last year that hovered between 79.39 feet to 72.70 feet in April and May.

All prepared: Mayor

At an event at Rotary Auditorium on JLB Road in city yesterday, Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath told reporters that the MCC is well equipped to tackle drinking water woes and said that the civic body will ensure drinking water supply to all citizens.

She said that except a few pockets of Vijayanagar, Kyathamaranahalli, areas alongside Outer Ring Road, upper areas and Chamundi Hill, the MCC was supplying drinking water to all residents without any disruption. “We have been supplying water to affected places with more than 25 tankers daily and we will hire some more tankers to ensure water to all affected places,” she said.  

“I have also discussed with MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag to explore the possibility of using 15 percent of 14th Finance Commission Funds for motor repair and other works to mitigate the drinking water problems,” she said.   

The Mayor said that the MCC has also worked out a plan to use borewell water effectively and to repair defunct borewells. Though Chamundi Hill does not come under the purview of MCC limits as it falls under Gram Panchayat jurisdiction, the MCC is also supplying water through tankers to needy residents of Chamundi Hill, she said.  

No crisis: DC

Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar told reporters that water crisis has been reported from several areas adjoining Mysuru City. “But there is no crisis as such. If the borewells are sunk, instructions have been given to sink it deeper and repair all the defunct borewells. We have even directed the local administration to hire private borewells if required and certain private borewells have already been identified,” he said.