Three rented tankers to fulfil drinking water needs in Kushalanagar

Madikeri: Though River Cauvery is considered as the lifeline of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States, the people of the district which is the birthplace of River Cauvery are facing severe drinking water problem.

River Cauvery is major source of drinking water to crores of people of many cities and towns in these two States including Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru and ensures water round the clock to ease their thirst.

Residents of Kushalnagar and surrounding areas are reeling under severe drinking water problem due to problems in water supply system for the last few days. This region needs 4 MLD drinking water every day and authorities are supplying water to these places in tankers after pumping from River Cauvery.

Taking into the account the water problem, the Government Authorities have hired three water tankers and are supplying water to residents even before the onset of summer.

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy told that the water problem gripped in various villages and towns of the district because of the depletion of groundwater table.

The Deputy Commissioner has also given directions to Assistant Executive Engineer of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited, Harangi Sub-Division, to release 100 cusecs of water from Chiklihole to River Cauvery daily to ease drinking water crisis.

Pumpsets banned at Cauvery River Basin: Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy has also issued an order prohibiting the usage of irrigation pumpsets drawing water from River Cauvery for agriculture and other commercial activities due to poor flow of water.  The District Administration has imposed Section 144 along the Cauvery River Basin.

The DC also cautioned to book cases on farmers under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code 1860, if they found involved in drawing water through irrigation pumpsets.

A decision to this effect was taken at the emergency meeting chaired by Annies Kanmani Joy at her office on Saturday to tackle drinking water crisis across the district.