Mangaluru :The various drinking water projects planned in Dakshina Kannada district had not yet been started, though the problem of drinking water shortage was very serious, in the city and wards in south Mangaluru are facing shortage of drinking water, said  Opposition leader in the state legislative council K S Eshwarappa.

The BJP leaders including K S Eshwarappa, criticised the corporation for drinking water shortage in city  in front of the Mangaluru City Corporation office on Tuesday.

Roopa D. Bangera, Leader of the Opposition in the Corporation, said that Mangaladevi, Pandeshwar, Hoige Bazaar, and State Bank of India bus terminus areas are facing shortage in water supply.

She alleged that the urban body itself did not have a proper data on the authorised and unauthorised water connections in its jurisdiction. “It has failed to file criminal complaints against those who have built structures on the main water supply lines between Thumbe and Padil,” she added. K. Monappa Bhandary, former MLC, said that some areas in the city got water for only for an hour every day and some for half an hour. Some areas did not receive water at all, he said. Mayor Harinath, being a senior councillor, and knowing the city very well, has not taken up the issue seriously, he added.

Mr. Eshwarappa said that it was a shame that a city like Mangaluru is facing drinking water scarcity. Though Dakshina Kannada has three Ministers in the State Cabinet, they have not addressed the issue. All the three Ministers should resign, Mr. Eshwarappa said. The Congress is busy only in resolving its internal issues, he added. V. Sunil Kumar, MLA, said that the corporation should have plans to get water from alternative sources without depending only on the Netravati.

Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, MLC Kota Srinivasa Poojary and district BJP president Prataph Simha Nayak were present at the press meet.