LET THE MEET BEGIN: Regional Commissioner for North Karnataka V. Umesh inaugurating a workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management in Belgaum on Wednesday.

BELGAUM: Prominent speakers at the inaugural function of a workshop on "Integrated water resources management" here on Wednesday laid stress on giving shape to policies on integrated water resources management instead of being occupied with theoretical issues.

The workshop was organised by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, the National Institute of Hydrology and The Institution of Engineers, Belgaum centre. B. Venkatesh, scientist and Head of the National Institute of Hydrology, Belgaum, highlighted the objectives of the workshop. Environmental Officer M.K. Prabhudeva was present.

Regional Commissioner for North Karnataka V. Umesh, who inaugurated the workshop, drew the attention of stakeholders and interest groups, including government officials, engineers, non-governmental organisations, farmers, industrialists, and water users, to the alarming situation pertaining to the availability of fresh water, and the concerns of the Union and State governments over the implementation of water harvesting schemes and programmes in rural and urban areas of the country.

Success stories

He cited success stories of how the participatory approach involving all stakeholders in creating water-harvesting structures such as watersheds in dry belts in Gulbarga district and in Andhra Pradesh about two decades ago helped recharge the water-table.

Pointing out that two-thirds of the earth's surface is covered by water, he said that of this, only 2.7 per cent is fresh water of which 75.2 per cent is frozen in the polar region while 22.6 per cent is available as groundwater. Already groundwater has been exploited beyond limits, he added.

Given the unpredictability of the monsoon, the major concern of the Government is to ensure availability of water in both rural and urban centres, Mr. Umesh said. Hence, water-harvesting structures such as watersheds, besides rain-harvesting structures, are imperative to augment the availability of water. Recycling of wastewater will also go a long way in supplying water for non-drinking purposes, he added.

Water treatment plants

Mr. Umesh asked all panchayat bodies to set up water treatment plants to supply clean drinking water. Punitive provisions have not been applied in this regard because of paucity of funds and other issues coming in the way of setting up treatment plants, he said and added that this should not, however, make the panchayats lax in opening the plants.

V.M. Patil, Chairman of the Institution of Engineers, Belgaum centre, who presided over the function, drew attention to the unscientific farming practices and the failure of the Government to evolve a rational water policy and water user policy, which has resulted in scarcity of water. This will have long-term effects, he added.

Silt formation

He pointed out that at least 30 per cent of the water bodies such as tanks and dams are full of silt, resulting in reduced storage of water.

He regretted that the report he submitted on lift irrigation schemes to the Government two years ago is yet to be implemented.

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