Udupi: Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Monday that all arrangements were being made to provide water to water-scarce areas in Udupi city and in the rural areas of Udupi Assembly Constituency through tapping various water sources or through water tankers.

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting of engineers, Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) and officers of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) here, Mr. Madhwaraj said that the water level at the Baje Dam against Swarna (called the Swarna First Stage), about 18 km from here, from where water is supplied to Udupi city and some surrounding villages, stood at 5.7 metres.

The water level at the dam on the same river at Shiroor village (called the Swarna Second Stage), about 24 km from here, was 0.7 metres. The water situation was better than last year, but still it was a cause for concern. If the water was supplied at the present level, all the water would get emptied by April 15.

Already, the CMC had regulated water supply in the city and it was being supplied on alternative days. The CMC was planning to divide the city into three zones so that water could be provided in the upghat areas.

The CMC had already prepared plan to supply water through tankers to water-scarce areas from February 14. A similar plan would be drawn up by the PDOs in rural areas by February 15. Short-term tenders would be floated by February 24 to supply water.