The Dakshina Kannada district administration has taken proactive measures to address the emerging concern of summer drinking water availability in Mangaluru. The district administration has directed the release of water from the AMR dam to the Thumbe vented dam to maintain the water level at six metres and prevent any shortage in the city.
Directive Issued by the Deputy Commissioner's Office
The directive was issued by the Deputy Commissioner's office following a proposal from the Mangaluru City Corporation. The corporation cited the rising demand for water during the peak summer period as the reason for the request. Mangaluru relies heavily on water drawn from the Thumbe vented dam, which is located across the Nethravati River. Officials have stated that the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 10.4 million cubic metres (MCM).
Current Water Levels and Estimated Supply
Official data as of April 21 indicated that the water level at Thumbe was at 4.7 metres, while the AMR reservoir stood at 18.6 metres. Authorities estimated that the available stock would last for nearly 22 days. To ensure an uninterrupted water supply, the district administration has instructed that water from the AMR reservoir be released to Thumbe whenever required to maintain the six-metre level.
Prioritising Drinking Water
The administration has also directed that the remaining water in the AMR reservoir be prioritised exclusively for drinking water and not diverted for other uses. This measure aims to safeguard the city's drinking water needs during the summer months. The executive engineer of the minor irrigation department and AMR Power Private Limited have been asked to implement the order immediately and submit a compliance report.
Public Advisory
The public has been advised to use water judiciously to help conserve resources during this period. The district administration continues to monitor the situation closely and will take further steps as necessary to ensure that the water supply remains stable throughout the summer.
