DK prepares for summer: Focus on water crisis and fire hazards

Mangaluru: With the onset of summer, the District Disaster Management Authority convened a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday to discuss measures for managing drinking water supply and preventing wildfires.

Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan, who presided over the meeting, directed officials to ensure proper water distribution in both urban and rural areas. He emphasized that any drinking water shortages should be addressed promptly and that officials must respond efficiently to public concerns. If required, water should be supplied through tankers, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed municipal authorities in urban areas and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) in rural areas to oversee and manage the drinking water supply effectively. Officials from Mangaluru City Corporation informed the meeting that the Thumbe Dam, which supplies water to the city, currently holds 5.70 meters of water, while the AMR Dam has a water level of 18.9 meters.

Fire prevention measures in forest areas

To prevent fire accidents in forest areas, the Deputy Commissioner instructed authorities to clear dried grass and vegetation near power lines and transformers to avoid sparks that could ignite wildfires.

As a precautionary measure, he directed Assistant Forest Conservation Officers, Regional Forest Officers, and Fire Department officials to conduct local-level meetings and ensure that fire safety equipment is procured in advance.

The meeting was attended by Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr. Anand K., Deputy Conservator of Forests Anthony Mariyappa, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr. G. Santosh Kumar, and other departmental officials.