Mandya DC Orders Crackdown on Illegal Water Extraction Amid Village Shortages

Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar has directed strict action against illegal water extraction from rivers and lakes as fifteen villages in the district face acute drinking water scarcity. During a District Disaster Management Authority meeting, Dr. Kumar identified unauthorized pumping via private pump sets as a primary factor worsening the crisis. He instructed tahsildars, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers, CESC officials, and police to immediately inspect riverbank locations and disconnect electricity supplies to unauthorised units. Currently, drinking water is being supplied through private borewells in the fifteen affected villages, with tanker services arranged for two additional locations. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for officials to assess ground situations personally and ensure no shortage persists until the end of summer. He assured that sufficient funds are available for drinking water management and ordered regular monitoring of borewell yields and water quality testing at purification units. Additionally, authorities confirmed adequate fodder availability for livestock for up to forty weeks. The meeting included senior district officials from agriculture, animal husbandry, and rural development departments, highlighting a coordinated administrative response to mitigate the impact of the summer water crisis in the region.