New vented dam at Thumbe may be ready by 2013

Mangalore, February 21: The new vented dam across the Netravathi at Thumbe, which is expected to meet the city's water requirements for five months with zero inflow will be ready by the end of next year, according to a senior official.

L N Anand, Executive Engineer, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), Mangalore told media persons on the sidelines of Ganga Pooja to the river organised by Mangalore City Corporation that while the existing vented dam has a storage capacity of 4.89 million cubic metres (mcm), the new vented dam, that was being constructed 50 metres downstream from the existing dam, would take the storage up to 14.74 mcm.

The existing storage capacity of 4.89 mcm helps MCC, which uses this water storage reservoir as its primary source of drinking water, for three months. The new dam will give the civic body a cushion of two months in meeting its water supply requirements to domestic and commercial users in the worst-case scenario of prolonged summer which can be accentuated by a delay in the onset of monsoon.

Mr Anand said the scarcity of labour has slowed down the dam construction work. "There is no shortage of material or finances," he said, adding that the non-availability of labour is pushing deadlines set for completing the dam.

Handled by Rithwik Projects Ltd and Swapna Constructions in a joint venture, the new vented dam will rise 12 metres from the foundation with water storage pegged at 7 metres. "The worst flood recorded in this part is 11.79 metres in 1974, and the height of the dam has been factored keeping in mind the history of the area," he said, adding that the new vented dam will have 30 vents of 10 metre width each, and they will have electrically-operated mechanical gates.

Observing that utmost care has been taken at the construction stage, Anand said: "Torsteel Research Foundation of India has vetted the dam design, while geologists from Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd will certify the foundation quality. Indian Register of Shipping are carrying out third-party inspection of materials used." The board has sent a revised estimate of Rs 79.5 crore to MCC for approval.

Ganga Pooja

Prior to this, Mayor Praveen and his deputy Geetha Nayak, along with other corporators and officials, performed 'Ganga Pooja', a task usually performed by Dakshina Kannada district minister. The pooja is offered to seek blessings for copious water storage at the dam.

With chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda having officially said he would be in charge of the district following Krishna Palemar quitting the cabinet in the wake of porngate, the task of offering pooja fell on Praveen, given the CM's preoccupation with preparing the state budget. Mayors in the past have assisted the respective district ministers in this task and have played second fiddle in the annual ritual with attention riveted on the ministers.

Geetha Nayak attached a philosophical chord to the rituals by stating that this tradition is in line with the tendency of Indians to see the almighty in all forms, and worship the elements seeking prosperity for all.

Underscoring the need to conserve water - given the fact that underground water table dips with each passing year - she advocated the need to make water conservation mandatory and start lessons on water conservation for schoolchildren.