Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district has been facing acute shortage of drinking water as the pre-monsoon rain has been negligible this time and the water experts have opined that rainwater harvesting should be made mandatory for all.
During an interaction programme on ‘Shortage of water in DK District, What Next?’ organised jointly by the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association, Press Club of Mangaluru and Patrika Bhavana Trust at Patrika Bhavan on Tuesday, May 21, water expert and lecturer at Vivekananda College Puttur Shreesha Puttur advised that every family must engage in rainwater harvesting and it should be made compulsory.
“In Chennai, door numbers are issued only after ensuring that there is proper rainwater harvesting system in a house. The same system should be followed here also. Due to unscientific projects of the government, the district is forced to face a drought-like situation now. The sensitive Western Ghats should not be destroyed on the pretext of any developmental project and check dams should be set up to the west flowing rivers”, he said.
Professor and columnist Dr. Narendra Rai Derla, another resource person at the programme, said that though water is being pumped from Thumbe vented dam to Mangaluru city for apparent drinking purposes, only 2 percent is being used and the remaining 98 percent is being used for washing, flushing and the operation of industries. “We need to emphasise more on rainwater harvesting and recycling of water”, he stressed.
Environmentalist and ‘Sahyadri Sanchaya’ Convener Dinesh Holla explained how the “deadly” project of Yettinahole can adversely affect the drinking water needs of the people. “Dakshina Kannda district will receive proper rainfall only if we protect our Western Ghats. However, in order to execute Yettinahole Project, the sensitive areas of Western Ghats have been destroyed now. The water absorbing area of Western Ghats has been destroyed in order to lay huge pipeline for diverting river water. This is also one of the reasons for shortage of pre-monsoon rainfall this time. Negligence of people in conserving nature is also another reason for the existing water problems”, he added.
