Udupi: 146 Villages May Face Drinking Water Shortage

Udupi district officials have issued a warning that up to 146 villages may face critical drinking water shortages during the upcoming monsoon season, according to a new survey conducted by the Karnataka State Water Department. The report lists villages across the coastal plains where groundwater levels have fallen below sustainable limits, leaving residents dependent on seasonal streams and erratic wells.

The cause is a mix of over‑extraction, climate‑induced erratic rainfall, and inadequate water‑harvesting infrastructure that has left many households without reliable access to clean water. Experts say that in the past decade, the average depth of borewells in the region has increased by over 20 metres, and the monsoon season has shifted, leading to farther start and longer dry spells. The district has already seen several villages suffer from recurrent shortages, prompting residents to travel hours to fetch water.

For the 146 affected villages, the potential shortfall could have serious public health implications, including higher risks of diarrhoeal diseases and water‑borne infections. Local leaders are calling for urgent government intervention—proposed measures include installation of solar‑powered pumps, construction of small dams, and community rain‑water harvesting schemes—to mitigate the crisis. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Ministry of Water Resources has pledged to allocate funds for emergency water‑distribution networks.

Source: Google News – Udupi.