KCCI Writes to Chief Minister: Mangaluru Needs Desalination Plant Now
Mangaluru, September 2, 2023: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has written to the Chief Minister of Karnataka about the urgent urgent need for a desalination plant in Mangaluru to address water shortage.
The chamber, representing the business community in Dakshina Kannada is sounding the alarm on the critical issue that threatens to impact people and local businesses and industries significantly.
In light of the critical situation in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, urgent action is necessary. I strongly advocate for prioritizing the establishment of a desalination plant in Mangaluru.
M Ganesh Kamath, President, KCCI
The memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, outlines the dire water scarcity situation currently gripping the region. Eight taluks in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are facing water deficits ranging from 18% to a staggering 40%, with several other taluks also experiencing shortages ranging from 8% to 16%. This predicament is posing substantial challenges to agriculture, industrial operations, and overall economic stability.
“The summer of 2023 saw the city of Mangaluru struggling to meet its citizens’ basic needs. After the onset of Monsoon, things have worsened, with Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks grappling with a drought-like situation after six years. The significant decline in rainfall has brought the pressing issue of water scarcity in these regions to the forefront,” KCCI president M Ganesh Kamath stated in the memorandum.
In response to this alarming situation, the KCCI has requested immediate support from the Chief Minister’s office for the implementation of a desalination facility in Mangaluru. Such a facility would serve as a crucial and sustainable solution to the region’s water woes.
“Installing a desalination plant is necessary to combat the looming water scarcity in the area. The government has invested a substantial amount of Rs. 20,000 crores in the Yettinahole project, whose results are yet to be known. However, the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has established a desalination plant with a significantly lower cost of Rs. 680 crores. This plant has a daily production capacity of 30 million litres of water (MLD) and has proven to be a highly cost-effective solution to augment the water supply to their refinery,” the memorandum added.
KCCI stressed that the implementation of a desalination plant is not only an immediate remedy but a forward-looking, sustainable solution to address water scarcity. Such an initiative would enhance resilience against unpredictable rainfall and contribute significantly to water conservation and sustainable development efforts.
“In light of the critical situation in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, urgent action is necessary. I strongly advocate for prioritizing the establishment of a desalination plant in Mangaluru. This initiative will provide much-needed relief to the affected community and demonstrate the government’s unwavering dedication to the welfare of its people,” the memorandum stated.
As the business community anxiously awaits the government’s response, the KCCI remains hopeful that swift and resolute action will be taken to mitigate the water scarcity crisis and ensure a thriving future for businesses in Karnataka.
