Belthangady town: Water supply limited to an hour/day

Belthangady: With the water shortage problem worsening by the day, the town panchayat has come forward with the initiative to provide drinking water within city limits for an hour every day.

Since the early showers failed to show up, the water in the rivers here has dried up completely. A month has passed since the water in Somavati River on which the town is dependant has disappeared. Water is being provided for two hours daily from 11 and 2 bore wells of the panchayat and privately owned respectively. In this condition, it is not possible to fill the water tanks. The water is directly connected to the pipeline network to supply the water. Considering the situation, we have come forward to supply water for only an hour, inform the concerned officials.

Limited use

From morning 6:30 am to 7:30 am, sometimes to 8 am the water is supplied. If the all the people fail to make judicious use of the water, the condition will only worsen. Already the new and old bore wells within the limits of the panchayat are being cleaned. In any case, if the ground water level is not improved, there will be nothing that the officials will be able to do. Therefore, the public themselves must inevitably use the water judiciously.

Difficult to fulfill the daily water requirement of 5 lakh liters

Considering a daily use of 130 liters of water (LPCD) per person, 5-7 lakh liters of water is required for 7,746 people. But presently, it is challenging to even supply 5 lakh liters of water. Currently, other than the 11 bore wells of the panchayat, water is drawn from 3 privately owned bore wells at Santekatte, Sante katte Chamundeshwari and Udayanagara respectively.

Rs 15 lakh drought relief plan

Already 9 works have been taken up from the Rs 15 lakh released from the drought relief fund. 7 works have already been completed and two works are in progress. Of them including the cleaning of 3 old bore wells, 1 new bore well, pipeline work and strict repair of the pump set has been conducted. Rs 2.50 lakh has been reserved for the installation of TC for 2 new bore wells at two locations, informed Belthangady Town Panchayat Engineer Mahaveera.

Water usage

Population in the town – 7,746 (2011 census)

Total pipe connections – 1,455

Household connections – 1,302

Other connections – 93

Connections for commercial use – 60

Importance to ground water conservation

“A notice has already been given to all asking them not to use the water being provided by the TP for washing vehicles and for cultivation. 90% the work undertaken with the Rs 15 lakh provided through the drought relief fund has been completed. Judicious use and groundwater conservation is the responsibility of all,” said Arun B, Chief Officer, Town Panchayat