Over-exploitation of ground water irks residents of Kairangala


Naveen Menezes
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (NM)

 
Bantwal, Apr 10:
Imagine the plight of a small village from where at least 25 tankers of water are extracted every day. Three families have dug several borewells in this village at Kairangala, Bantwal about 17 km away from Mangalore, only to sell the ground water to various clients including Infosys at Mudipu. This is the unfortunate condition of the villagers here.
 
The residents allege that the three families of Martin D’Souza, Anil D’Souza and Herald D’Souza are the private water suppliers.

“If this family had one borewell in 2008, today the number has increased to eight. Over the years, hundreds of water tankers have been supplied to various clients for money. This is a very serious issue, but nobody is on our side,” says B Shivarama Shetty, a resident of Kairangala.
 
"Several protests, signature campaigns, appeals and opposition from the neighbours to the supply of water and even the submission of a detailed report and memorandum to the DC have turned useless," he says, his voice thick with helplessness and frustration.
 
The residents further allege that the private water suppliers enjoy financial returns and nothing bothers them, and therefore, extraction of water is being done continuously for several years. Due to the over-exploitation of ground water by those whose houses are located geographically below, nearly 100 families whose houses are above suffer the most due to the scarcity of water. The open wells and the old borewells which are about 200 ft deep have dried up and hence the residents are at the receiving end.
 
"The open well in our house has dried. Our family is solely dependent on the water which is supplied by the panchayat and it comes only once in two days," says Jaya Poojary, a 70-year-old resident.
 
"The terrain of Kambalapadavu and neighboring areas were always lush green; however due to the over-exploitation of ground water, the plants have withered away," he adds.
 
Shivarama, who is also a professor at the Mangalore University, said that he has personally approached these three families to inform them about the adverse effects of over-exploiting the ground water. "But sadly, they pay no heed to us," he says.
 
“Ground water is the main source of water for our areas. Increased quantity of extraction of ground water has led to drying up of many of our open wells as well as borewells,” he adds.
 
The alleged family has constructed a water tank of capacity 65,000 litres. The water is filled in the tank from the borewells and is later supplied to the various clients with the help of water tankers.
 
“During the summer season, the number of tankers supplying water is more than 20 and supply decreases during raining season,” said Vasantha, another resident.
 
“It is said that there was a project of the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) to supply water from the Thumbay vented dam (Netravati) to Infosys, Mudipu. However, the project was stalled after villagers of Fajir protested the proposal of laying a pipeline through the villages. This has further helped the three families in their business,” said Shivarama.
 
Another resident said that the depletion of ground water has led to a drastic decrease in the output of water from a borewell laid by the village panchyath a few years ago. As the open wells dry up early and there is uncertainty over the supply of water provided by the panchayath, few families have dug borewells. However, not many have received a good percentage of water.
 

Ineffective legislation

Although there is a legislation which monitors over-exploitation of ground water, it has been rather ineffective. The Karnataka Ground Water Regulation and Control of Development and Management Act, 2011 has laid down a set of regulations to be followed before digging a borewell, but this is not followed.
 
Parineeta Dandekar, the coordinator of the South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) feels that the government is not serious about it.
 
N J Devaraja Reddy, a hydrogeologist says, “Selling ground water for exchange of money is illegal. People dig borewells under influence, but there are regulations which the officials in the villages do not know about. Over-exploitation leads to irreparable damage to the terrain of ground water. Everyone who wants to dig a borewell needs permission.”
 
When Daijiworld contacted deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, he said the issue would be looked into and directed the department of mines and geology to check the status.

  

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Comment on this article

  • abdulla, india

    Mon, Apr 14 2014

    Only professionals should handle these departments.
    Govt-politicians, bureaucrats should step out..
    All water bodies should be nationalized and we have a action team comprising of scientists -engineers....naval staff to run the national need of water.Totally scientific and professional..100% computerized .
    Its a shame and pit that India being a peninsula between 3 oceans and the great Himalayan water flowing..in rivers and direct to the sea ,,what a waste...
    stop throwing dead bodies and polluting the rivers with garbage..filth.industrial waste ..by law punishable..
    Set up water treatment..garbage recycling plants all over the nation near the water bodies...
    Set us a university only for Recycling..water management....treatment...conservation.harvesting etc.
    this is serious and must...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavia, mangalore

    Sat, Apr 12 2014

    Rita, Germany - So what are you doing in Germany. Come down to India and lets all try to resolve this issue.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sat, Apr 12 2014

    @Ameer Dubai,I think you have not understood the matter.In western and European countries water should be coveted since it is hard water,second no Mineral water like in Mangalore.And important you are saying water can be bought,since not costs much.why should we buy our own water?whereas in cities I understand.but in village like bantwal Areas,they have bored and and extracted water for selling purpose and let other wells dry by pumping up more than requeired water even though they know it.it is criminal energy like let them see how they servive.I have my water to drink and get enough Money.In Borewells water is pumped with force.and extracts from nearby wells.In ancient times water was taken with care as much as you want.so wells were hardly dry.now rains are less water doesnt get in earth so that remains till whole summer.and everywhere borewells are comeup.more water is pumpingout.And to covit the see water,you need lot of electricity which is again need water or causes co2in the Environment, heat increases .whole circle beginns from beginning.we should be bit Aware of our envirement and use only required amount of water without much wastage.Infuture we will be having lack of water everywhere in the world.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 11 2014

    130Rs is not more for 1000ltr water - It may not be for you. I don't want to pay for water at a place where we are getting more than 400cm of rain a year.
    Covert sea water to drinkable sweet water - I don't think this is the best idea for DK, it will cost more than many other solutions

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ameer , Dubai -Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 11 2014

    Water supply is not the business they were supplying the water for one who needs. I am also residing the same area where there is no water in March and April and I usually buy a tanker water for 450Rs in this around 320Rs will be the vehicle , manpower and electric charge. 130Rs is not more for 1000ltr water. In DK there are many areas even a single of water is not available. If we travel in all the routes in DK everywhere we can find the women’s with pots waiting for tanker water. All these happen only because of illiterate and corrupt politicians. They don’t know how to solve the problems. Why Government water authorities not thinking to covert sea water to drinkable sweet water as we have a biggest Arabic ocean covered to DK coastal area. Now most of the western and European countries using the sea water as drinking water after conversion. In GCC countries all the ground water also salt water. They were using new technology to convert salt water to sweat water. Hope this election will make changes on us.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • ಡಾ.ಅರುಣ್ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್, ಕೈರಂಗಳ

    Fri, Apr 11 2014

    ಈ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದ ವಾರದ ಸೆಖೆಗೆ ಕುಡಿಯಲು ನೀರಿನ ಕೊರತೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ಮಗುವೊಂದು ಬಳಲಿದ್ದು ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಗೆ ದಾಖಲಿಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು.ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಆಡಳಿತಕ್ಕೆ ಕ್ರಮ-ಕಾನೂನು ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರತಿ ರಾತ್ರಿ 3-4 ಬೋರ್ ವೆಲ್ ಕೊರೆಯುವ ಶಬ್ದ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿದೆ.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • rajesh, maangalore

    Fri, Apr 11 2014

    When I was young,I Had not seen a mineral water bottle in Mangalore. However, today we see packaged mineral water everywhere. Households, rilaway stations, hotels, etc. Water has become a huge business. we have to manage water properly. each flush after pissing will lead to 4-5 liters down into sewage. Most importantly, we have to curtail our ever-growing population. We may see a gigantic problem in the years to come. wars , famines etc may become part of living.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe D'Souza, Mangalore

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    What happened to the Law on sinking borewells. Laws are made only to get the votes and after winning,these Laws will be used to make money. I feel sorry for the poor villagers whom no one listens. What happened to the religious Heads of the village who preach that feed the Hungry, give water to the thirsty and more BS!!!!. Now all these preachers are inside the ring because percentage will be coming in the form of donation. The best solution is uniting every villager together and stand on the road to stop the tankers. That will be Three against Hundreds.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    This is a serious case.The water sellers have not realized what criminal act they are doing.It can be possible they themselves have to buy water from These buyers in bottles.There is a good example of a firm from Switzerland who sells water to People from the originals.First, they say doing some good things to the villages and buy land or putup a firm and start digging and extract water to fillup in bottles and sell.The water wells are drying People have to buy water drink.Have no alternative.who doesnt have Money to buy ddrink dirty water from Pond and get sick.That is what Happening in Africa and People are crying ,noone hears it.same in America started.we all know the firm from advertisement.In america also they started but People from the area protested and said it is our ground right to have to get drinking water so they had to stop the boring.In India also in calcutta area or so I saw in TV.People are suffering without drinking water.But Firma is selling in Bottles.Plastic is scattered everywhere.so dear citizens, please wake up and stop this nonsense.At least let water for all be free dont take away this because of your Profit energy.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • sid, mangalore

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    Who has time for all this petty issues . Modi's Wife is more important to us ...

    DisAgree [17] Agree [52] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh Shetty, Mlore Shj

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    Well said Sid.

    DisAgree [15] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh Adyapadi, mangalore

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    Ground water is equally a serious issue. What if the ground water gets dried up due to over-exploitation. There will be a time, when not only petrol and other fuel but even India may have to import water. Get educated on the importance of ground water. Just because u own the land, it does not mean you exploit it. We dont use natural resources, we just misuse them.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • dan, manggi

    Thu, Apr 10 2014

    This is called slapping without touching.

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Apr 11 2014

    @sid,Mangalore,When you dont have time to do this,take time for this important Thing.Tomorrow when you are thirsty and no normal water is available,your Modis wife will not come to reduce your thirst,i mean won't bring water to you..all villagers have to get together and fight for it.The time is not far ,wells are drying,rain is lessend,buildings are rising,and People want more more.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse


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