The third round of water rationing began in Mangaluru on Tuesday as water levels continued to drop in the Thumbe vented dam, which is the city’s main source of water.

According to the New Indian Express, Mangaluru MLA and Urban Development Minister UT Khader said the move was being used as a last resort. The report added that the water level in the dam stood at 4.90 metres (7.30 MCM) on Sunday, which would last for less than 28 days if water is supplied every day. 

“Mangaluru City Corporation had decided to cut down water supply for two days from this week. The rationing system which was supposed to start from April 30 will be implemented from May 1. In order to avoid severe water crisis in future, rationing system will have to begin,” UT Khader had said.

As per the schedule for rationing, water from the reservoir will be provided for four days, while there will be no water after that for two days. 

The city corporation had started rationing water on April 18, with the same cycle, where the water supply was cut off on April 18 and April 19, and then again on April 24 and April 25. They had to take a call if the same would continue for a third round. 

Water will not be available from 6am on May 1 to 6am on May 3. The next round will be from 6am on May 7 to 6am on May 9. The same will continue from May 13 to May 15 and May 19 to May 21, reported Mangalore Today. 

Khader allegedly accused BJP MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Bharath Shetty of not working towards increasing the water levels. “As MLAs, they did not consult me, nor have they written any letter in this regard. I called them twice for this,” he reportedly said.

“We should stop doing politics on water issues. Let us pray for the arrival of rains. There was also an instance of rain arriving after June 15. So we should take all the measures to prevent water crisis in the coming days,” Khader reportedly told reporters on Tuesday.