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Large-scale impounding of water dangerous, says expert

Special Correspondent

FOR BETTER WATER MANAGEMENT: Water dynamics expert M.N. Madhyastha delivering a lecture at National Institute of Technology Karnataka in Surathkal on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

SURATHKAL: Large-scale impounding of water in a given geographical area can have its bearing on "plate dynamics", and can increase the susceptibility of the area to earthquakes, according to water dynamics expert M.N. Madhyastha.

Delivering a lecture on the occasion of the World Water Day at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka here on Tuesday, Dr. Madhyastha said stability of the area and the integration of the dam area should be determined while impounding water in a large scale.

Citing the example of Koyna earthquake in 1967, Dr. Madhyastha said that the earthquake was a result of the impact on the plate tectonics due to large-scale water impounding in Koyna dam.

Dr. Madhyastha, who served in a panel on river interlinking constituted by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said that to ensure water security to everyone certain decisions had to be taken in relation to availability of water perennially.

Canalling, aqua ducts, and intra and inter basin connectivity should be researched, he said.

It was important to conserve and develop water sources by various methods, including the arrest of the saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.

While using up water sources, each one of us should consciously manage water on a day-to-day basis, Dr. Madhyastha said. He said at least 20 per cent of the water should be allowed to flow in the course of the river and the percentage should be higher for rivers joining the sea, as these rivers had specific tasks such as maintaining the salinity level and supplying nutrients to the marine ecosystem.

Dr. Madhyastha also warned against the danger of sinking borewells indiscriminately as "they were an intrusion into the natural aquifer system".

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