TAKING STOCK: Mysore district in-charge Minister D.T. Jayakumar reviewing developmental works, in Mysore on Tuesday. — PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM

MYSORE: Taking exception to the laxity among officials in discharging their duty, district in-charge Minister D.T. Jayakumar on Tuesday constituted a task force and directed that daily water supply in the city be restored within three days.

The Minister, who was reviewing the developmental works in the city, made it clear that no excuses would be tolerated and threatened officials with suspension if they failed to restore water supply from Saturday.

The city receives water only on alternate days and there are areas where water is supplied only once in three days.

This has resulted in protests against the Mysore City Corporation by the public and several non-governmental organisations.

The Minister said the task force would comprise officials of the Karnataka Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Irrigation Department, the Mysore Urban Development Authority, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation and members of various Standing Committees.

Wastage

Corporation Commissioner Chandrashekar said that water usage was high during summer and added that as against a requirement of 43 million gallons per day (mgd), the city was receiving 33 mgd.

He said the problem was in the distribution network as there was wastage of 10 mgd during distribution. He said water supply to the city was affected, despite sufficient water in the Krishnaraja Sagar Reservoir, owing to the faulty distribution network and pointed out that a Bangalore-based private organisation had been vested with the task of conducting a survey on the distribution network.

Mr. Chandrashekar said the report would also identify loopholes in the system and suggest steps to improve distribution.

Madegowda and others pointed out that though reservoirs and overhead tanks had been constructed in places such as Kuvempunagar, they were not being used as the tanks were yet to be linked to the water supply lines and pipes.

The former Mayor Narayan said the present crisis was a slur on the administration as the water level in the KRS was hovering around 94 feet, which was nearly 30 feet more than the level during the corresponding period two years ago when water was supplied everyday in the city. Mayor Bharati said the distribution system network should be improved and leakages plugged, but the officials refused to act.

Mr. Jayakumar told the officials that he held them responsible for the present crisis and asked them to explain why water could not be supplied daily. When a senior official, Ramakrishnappa, expressed his inability to restore daily water supply immediately as suggested by the Minister, Mr. Jayakumar said: "I will give you three days time to ensure daily water supply."

The corporation health officer Nagaraj was questioned by the Minister for uncleared garbage in the city.

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