Mangaluru : A check dam constructed across River Gurupura (Phalguni), at Malavur in the taluk was commissioned as part of the multi-village drinking water supply project, making it a first-of-its-kind project to be started in the district on Tuesday at Malavoor.

Speaking the gathering after the inauguration, district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai said,It will ensure drinking water to a 56,000 people in 66 residential areas of 14 villages coming under eight gram panchayats in and around Malavur. The villages to benefit from the project are Bajpe, Jokatte, Malavur, Kenjar, Permude, Kutthethur, Moodushedde, Padushedde, Thenka Ekkar, Badaga Ekkar, Bala, Kalavar, Surinje and Delanthabettu. The work on a similar project at Kinnigoli has been hampered due to unscientific work by a Hyderbad firm which had taken the contract. These projects will meet the water needs of Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks.” he added.

According to the information provided by the Department of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, the project was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 42.5 crore.

MLA Abhaychandra Jain, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde and others were present.