Mangaluru City to Implement Water Rationing from May 1; DC Outlines Monsoon Preparedness

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Mangaluru : Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan H.V. has announced that water rationing will be implemented in Mangaluru starting May 1. Although the Thumbe vented dam and AMR dam currently have enough storage to meet the city’s requirements until June 10, the decision was made due to rising summer demand and to ensure equitable supply to areas like Surathkal. While 160 MLD of water is currently being pumped daily, the rationing will ensure that all 60 wards of the city receive sufficient water at least once every two days. As of April 24, the water level at Thumbe is at 4.53 meters and AMR at 18.53 meters, with steady inflows recorded due to rains in the Western Ghats.

The administration has also identified over 40 illegal water connections in rural areas along the supply line. While these have not been disconnected yet on humanitarian grounds, the DC stated that measures are being taken to install meters to regulate supply to villages. Additionally, a strict warning has been issued against unauthorized flex banners and hoardings on road medians. No exemptions will be made, including for government programs, and stern action will be taken against violators in the coming days.

To prepare for the upcoming monsoon, all contractors working on the Jalasiri project have been directed to close all dug-up trenches by May 20. Desilting work for major drains and ‘Rajakaluves’ is also underway across 32 packages at a cost of ₹4 crore. To ensure transparency and prevent artificial flooding, local residents will be involved in monitoring the desilting process. Specific flood-mitigation plans are being executed at Pumpwell and Jyothi, including proposals to raise the height of certain bridges and widen specific drainage channels.

Under the Smart City initiative, the installation of 66,000 LED streetlights is expected to be completed by the end of June. These lights will be integrated with a Command and Control Centre, allowing for an automated system to switch lights on and off simultaneously. This is expected to solve the issue of streetlights remaining on during the day due to manual delays caused by staff shortages. Coordination with Mescom and the Forest Department is also finalized to handle tree falls and power issues during the rainy season.