No water supply: Locals protest, send playing cards to Koppa taluk panchayat staff

Chikkamagaluru: In an embarrassing situation for officials of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Koppa taluk panchayat, locals sent them playing cards in protest over the alleged failure to supply water to households even after years.

Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha’s Sringeri assembly constituency unit chief, Naveen Karuvane, distributed the playing cards at the Koppa office, alleging ineffective implementation of the JJM. According to Karuvane, officials had failed to implement the project effectively and were doing nothing. He handed out playing cards and sarcastically urged them to invite their higher-ups to join in and pass time.

He said the lack of commitment from officials had led to the failure of the project aimed at providing tap water to households. Many villages were facing drinking water shortages, but authorities had failed to expedite work, displaying negligence.

Karuvane added that while water was supplied through tankers last year, several villages in Koppa taluk were now left without any supply. He claimed the situation was similar across the district.

He also pointed out that although work had been completed in many places and overhead tanks had water, supply to households had not begun. He alleged that some connections failed before commissioning, several taps were damaged, and water meters were defunct.

In many cases, he said, works were taken up without identifying water sources, with pipelines laid and tanks constructed before digging borewells. These borewells later failed to yield water, which he blamed on irresponsible planning.

Revanna, a resident, said his house received a connection in 2025, but water was never released, except during a trial run.

An official claimed that proposals had been forwarded to higher authorities but were still pending approval, adding that households would receive water under JJM once the works were cleared.