Mangaluru : Dr H N Gopalakrishna, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner, has said that 18 water tankers – six in Surathkal region and 12 in the city – have been deployed to supply water to the needy.

Many areas in the city are already getting water only once in three days – which is not according to the actual requirement. The water is also not reaching households located in the hilly areas.

Speaking to media, the Corporation Commissioner said, “In addition, the Corporation has procured 30 fibre water tanks that can be loaded on pick-up vans to supply water to the residents in the hilly areas and by-lanes where the tankers cannot be reached. Eight tanks have been given to the Corporation by the Civil Contractors’ Association to supply water. On Saturday, 28 water tanks were loaded to the pick-up vans to supply water. From Sunday, all the 38 water tanks will be used for supplying water to the needy in each ward.”

He added that the water released from the Disha vented dam upstream the River Kumaradhara is yet to reach the Thumbe Dam.

The Corporation started the dredging of silt at the weir of Thumbe vented dam on Saturday. The dredging of silt will ensure that the available water reaches the jack-wells.

Dr Gopalakrishna said that the dredging has been initiated following the direction of Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim. “The water-level at the dam has dipped to 4.7 feet. The maximum storage capacity of the dam is 13 feet. If the water-level falls to 4 feet, then water cannot be lifted from the dam,” he expressed worry.