Mangaluru: Even though Dakshina Kannada is presently not facing any water problem, the district administration must take all precautionary measures to ensure water problem does not crop up in the coming days. All necessary steps must be taken up on an emergency basis," said DK District in-charge Minister B Ramanatha Rai.

The minister gave the above directive to officials at the progress review meet held at the DK Deputy Commissioner’s office in the wake of Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks declared as drought-hit taluks.

"Though there is scope to store water upto 8 meters in the new vented dam, at present water is stored only upto five meters. As storing water above this height would lead to submersion of nearby areas, once grant towards compensation are released, steps would be taken to store water upto six meters," he informed

ZP CEO Dr M R Ravi who was also present, said a new proposal to have minimum one vented dam in every village has been prepared. An action plan that has been prepared has estimated the cost of one dam at Rs 2.30 lakhs. The same has been sent to government for approval, he added