Calling the Western Ghats as the country’s lungs, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Anil Madhav Dave said here on Friday that one must be practical in conserving water bodies than merely talking about them academically or otherwise.
Speaking at the valedictory of the 10th biennial lake conference of the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, at Alva’s College, the Minister asked the participants to introspect if they have done anything worth on the field to conserve water bodies. “Have you worked at least for an hour or two practically on the field to save lakes?” the Minister asked.
Stating that one should be a performer and not non-performer in saving water bodies, he wondered if lake conservation should remain only a topic for discussion in seminars and workshops.
Mr. Dave said that those having a soft corner for saving water bodies should select water bodies of their choice for conservation and physically involve themselves in the conservation efforts.
Stating that genuine efforts are required to save water bodies, the Minister said that practical experience of conserving lakes, ponds, rivers, tanks eventually gave “the pleasure of meeting God”. Stating that the Netravathi is the lifeline of the coastal belt, he said: “I will not permit for any misbehaviour with the river.”
The Minister also asked the people not to waste food and water.
T.V. Ramachandra, professor, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, called the State government’s Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project as a “senseless project”. It would yield only 0.85 tmcft of water for diversion against the projected quantity of 24 tmcft. Should the government spend Rs. 13,000 crore to fetch 0.85 tmcft of water? he asked.
He suggested that rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of lakes, ponds and tanks, removing silt from them were the feasible plans to augment water for supplying to the parched districts in the State.
Meanwhile, recommendations of the conference said that swamps, marshes and shoal forests of the Western Ghats being the storage areas for the monsoon rain and being the perennial sources of water need to be mapped and prioritised for conservation and restoration.
Alva’s College and the IISc jointly organised the conference.
