BHATKAL: The heatwave sweeping across Bhatkal taluk has exacerbated the water crisis, with rivers and wells drying up and the next two months posing a significant challenge for residents.

Of the 16 gram panchayats in Bhatkal taluka, Hadvalli, Konar, and Koppa are the only areas with sufficient drinking water. The rest of the regions are grappling with acute water shortages, and the situation in urban areas is worsening by the day.

Misbahul-Haq, the councillor of Jalipatan panchayat, highlighted the dire situation, noting that one of the three pumps used to draw water from the Kadvinkatte dam in the Jali area has been out of commission for over two months without repair. The remaining two pumps are also malfunctioning, leading to a deficit of at least two hundred liters of water per day in the Jali Patan panchayat limit. In some areas, residents are experiencing water shortages every three or four days.

The scarcity extends to areas like Heble Hertar, Belke Mogerkeri, and Mundali Mogerkeri, prompting an uptick in the business of water vendors. Distressed by the shortage, residents are compelled to purchase 2,000 liters of water at prices ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 800.

The Kadvinkatta dam is a crucial water source for Bhatkal city and several panchayat areas. However, the demand for water is escalating annually, placing a heavier burden on the dam. Unfortunately, no substantial efforts have been made to expand water storage or conserve this vital river, except for occasional dredging every five years.

Currently, the Kadvinkatta Dam has a storage capacity of 200 million cubic feet, with 25 million cubic feet allocated for drinking water annually. Another 10 million cubic feet are reserved as dead storage, while 140 million cubic feet are utilized for agriculture and irrigation through canals.

Despite the dam being within the TMC limits, the Town Municipal Council (TMC) has not implemented proper measures for utilizing dam water for drinking purposes. Consequently, areas like Jalipatan Panchayat, Shirali, and Mavinkurve rely on the same dam for their water supply, making it a lifeline for a significant portion of Bhatkal Taluk.