Unscientific UGD System Polluting Water Sources in Udupi City – Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag
Udupi: “There can be no solution to the problem of drinking water without making a perfect underground drainage system in Udupi City. The UGD waste is entering wells and canals, which is why we cannot use the water from wells and canals” said Chairman of The Human Rights Protection Foundation Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag in a press meet held at the Press Club, Udupi here, on May 8.
Addressing the mediapersons, Shanbhag said, “In our district, we are conducting many awareness programmes on rainwater harvesting. But, no one is thinking about a well-planned underground drainage system and a drainage water recycling unit in Udupi. Even though it has been 20 years since Udupi became a district, still there are no officials in the UGD Department.”
Shanbhag further said, “The underground drainage (UGD) system is totally unscientific, and has been polluting water sources in areas like Gundibailu, Kalsanka, and Bannanje. The UGD system was planned keeping in mind the 40,000 population of Udupi at that time. Now, the city’s population has tripled. The administration should work on an elaborate plan to fix the UGD system and protect the water sources.”
He also said, “Auditing water for efficient usage is the need of the hour. This will help the administration study the water consumption pattern. The audit will also help in minimizing water scarcity issues. Auditing water will also throw light on factors affecting the water supply, including the availability of water. Illegal water connections and water connections without meters should be immediately disconnected. The issue of water scarcity can be tackled effectively by building check dams, which in turn will increase the groundwater table in the surrounding areas. The dams should be built across those rivers and streams in the district that flow westwards. The Paschima Vahini project should be introduced, which would enable the construction of check dams across the west flowing rivers and streams.”
Shanbhag lamented over the government’s disinterest in executing such projects. He also regretted the fact that the state government had not taken any initiative nor allocated any funds for such work.
Muralidhar Upadhyay, a resource person, said “Like Chennai, we can also use sea water. The District Administration should set up a small-scale desalination plant to help the administration manage the issue of water scarcity in the district.”