Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 21: An interaction with media was held to highlight the water crisis in the district of Dakshina Kannada on Tuesday May 21 at the Press Club in the city.
Speaking on the occasion, Srisha Puttur, professor of Vivekananda College said, "We should take steps for water harvesting during the rainy season in order to tackle the water crisis. Dakshina Kannada district is facing severe water shortage. Most of the roads are concretized in city as well as village limits and there is no way for sweet water to percolate inside the ground. In the coming years, well water may turn to salt water because the sweet water is not percolated inside the earth. The vented dam is at Thumbay because saline water has reached till there. Earlier there was complete greenery in areas like Kadri Hills, which is now turned into infrastructural area.
"Without breaking down the Netravati river, it better to construct a check dam at every five km, where the water overflows. When the water flows from our roof, we must try to collect it and purify it with a simple method. Take all concrete measures for water harvesting which will be helpful during the water crisis.”
Professor of Vivekanada College Narendra Rai Derla said, "Credit must go to human beings for contaminating water. The amount of water usage is increased. We are wasting water on unnecessary things like washing vehicles. A better option is water harvesting. Collect water in every possible way so that it will be utilized in daily life.”
Social activist Dinesh Holla said, "Most of the hilly areas of Western Ghats are chopped off because of the unscientific projects which damage the Netravati river. Even wild forest fires cause damage to the river because once the forest turns to ashes it destroys the roots of trees. During the rainy season, there will be soil erosion, which blocks all the water sources in elevated areas. People are never bothered about the environment, water sources and rivers, but are worried during water crisis.”
He also said, "We are in a situation where we need to request from others one bucket of water. Many of the Western Ghats have been encroached upon to build home stays and other unscientific projects which block all the water sources.”
President of district working journalists’ union Srinivas Nayak Indaje was present.