Mangaluru (TNN): Mayor KavithaSanil said that the present water storage at Thumbe vented dam is sufficient for Mangaluru city and surrounding areas till May 25 with the existing rationed supply. At a meet the press programme, Kavitha, said that water level at Thumbe dam stands at 5mts as on Tuesday and it will last till May 25. "There is no need to worry. If the water level in Thumbe dams dips further, we will ask the AMR Power Private Limited to release water from its dam at Shamboor again,'' she said.

In the meantime, she said, MCC has plans to store water in Thumbe dam to its maximum level of 7mts. However, the issue needs to be discussed with chief minister Siddaramaiah as it requires additional funds to compensate farmers, who will lose land due to submersion after the storage level is increased to 7mts, she said. "Currently, the MCC is paying Rs 21 lakh as rent to farmers for their land that has been submerged after the commissioning of the new vented dam. We have already conducted a survey and found that more than 400 acres of land will be submerged if the water level in the dam is increased to 7mts. The CM has agreed to release funds to compensate farmers. However, a final decision will be taken after a delegation led by district minister B Ramanath Rai meets the CM," Kavitha said.

On other major plans of development in Mangaluru city, the mayor, said the MCC will introduce online payment facility for the convenience of citizens to pay property tax and other cess. "The process of digitization of MCC services is under progress and once it is over, we will start receiving payments through online," she said. The civic body has plans to make it mandatory for all the new apartments and commercial complexes in the city to have their own waste management plants. "We will make waste management a responsibility of the building owners. Already, many apartments and commercial complexes in the city have been managing their waste without depending on MCC. A direction in this regard will be issued after a discussion," she said.

The mayor said selected roads in Mangaluru will be made Wi Fi zones with participation of private companies and the five e-toilets, which are under construction at Kadri Park (2), Lalbagh (2) and Hampankatta (1) will be ready within 15 days. A committees headed by the corporators will be set up to develop 18 parks and more emphasis will be given for construction of footpaths and drainage, she added.