Mangaluru cries for water, politicos at war

Mangaluru: While Mangaluru City is facing a water crisis, political parties are busy in mudslinging.

As the inflow of water from river Netravathi  to the vented dam at Thumbe, the main source of water supply to Mangaluru city, has completely stopped, the dam has water  that can last for less than one month. So authorities started water rationing from Wednesday.

As per the rationing schedule, water is supplied for four days (96) hours at a stretch and stopped for the next two days. With this the  authorities plan to provide water till June first week, by when they expect monsoon showers.

But amidst this water crisis, BJP and Congress leaders have startedputting the blame on each other.

Two days ago Mangaluru City South MLA Vedavyas Kamath had blamed the Congress for the failure of ADB funded water supply system under KUDCEMP which had to provide water to Mangaluru City 24 hours till 2026. He had asked former MLA J.R. Lobo (who was the Project Director of KUDCEMP project then) the reason for the failure to provide water to the city. Kamath had  said that BJP had granted a new dam  at Thumbe and  blamed the Congress for not taking  step to solve the  crisis.

On Wednesday, it was Lobo's turn to retaliate to the allegations. "Mr Kamath had alleged that I am reason for the water crisis. He had also alleged that the work was substandard. I challenge Mr Kamath to conduct a inquiry and if the charges are found true,. I will  retire from politics.”