HARSH SUMMER: The nearly pdry bed of river Swarna

UDUPI: Udupi is reeling under a severe drinking water shortage with many areas getting little or no water for the last four days. The water in Baje dam, about 15 km from Udupi across the Swarna, has almost dried up, leading to the crisis.

In order to increase the flow in the river, the Udupi municipality has cleared a channel in an area above Brahmagundi, where some water is available, to Brahmagundi and to the Baje weir.

According to the junior engineer of Udupi municipality, Anand, obstructions to the channel such as rocks and shrubs have been removed to facilitate free flow of water to Brahmagundi.

The present system of water distribution in the city is based on gravitational flow. While the low-lying areas get water for some time, the areas on a higher plane are facing acute shortage. The present system does not have the provision to provide for equitable distribution of water.

The water at Brahmagundi is expected to last for another six to seven days. Mr. Anand said that due to high temperature, water evaporated fast resulting in low levels at Baje. Only rains in the catchment area can improve the situation, he said.

The present supply to the city is 75 litres daily per person. The implementation of the Swarna Second Stage works under the KUDCEMP, with a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is likely to meet the water needs of the city for the next 25 years.

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