After our neighbouring state Kerala witnessed unexplainable instances of rivers getting dry, it is now the turn of undivided Dakshina Kannada district, wherein the flow of water in most of the rivers is said to be decreasing when compared to last year.
Due to this, social activists, environmentalists and civilians are worried about the situation of drinking water during summer.
Everyone seemed relaxed because it was earlier said that the district would not face any drinking water issues this year because the region received favourable rainfall.
Usually, rain starts lashing in the month of June here. However, the district has got rainfall continuously since mid-April this year. Despite the good rainfall, the water level dipping day by day is creating a sense of panic. Environmentalists opine that the existing water level is equal to the water level, which usually prevails in the month of January, which means our water bodies are showing a deficit of three months.
The report of groundwater authority in Dakshina Kannada district confirmed that the water level has gone down this year when compared to last year. The department has already analysed the existing water level in most of the rivers in Dakshina Kannada district. Sullia taluk, which is also called the green belt of Dakshina Kannada district too is likely to be hit this year, according to the report that says that water level of Payaswini river in Sullia has dipped around 2.45 meter after the Jodupala landslide and deluge episode.
In Uppinangadi also, sand beds are seen in the river even before the end of the monsoon. The water level in Kumaradhara and Nethravathi too is not satisfactory.
Lokesh, a farmer of Uppinagady, who uses Nethravathi river for irrigation purpose says that his arecanut plantation would definitely go dry this year due to lack of water in the river. “I wonder how the flow of the water lessened even after a good rainfall this year,” he adds.
Give a five-year break to the Western Ghats
Social activist M G Hegde says that the unscientific development works taken up by the government as well as private individuals has resulted in dire consequences like the flood, drought, landslide among others.
” Give a break of at least five years to the Western Ghats. Let her rejuvenate,” he says adding that the government should not go ahead with any projects which destroys the Western Ghats including the Yettina Hole project. As the western ghats are considered as the heart of Karnataka, it should not be touched. If we continue to wound our heart, we are threatening ourselves, he says.
Meanwhile, many have urged the government to take steps to analyse the reason behind this phenomenon and do what is necessary to avert eventualities.
