Save Nethravathi: Dr. Veerendra Heggade

Save Nethravathi: Dr. Veerendra Heggade

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 14: Dharmadhikar of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Shri Veerendra Heggade said that the depleting level of water in the Nethravathi at the height of summer should be treated as a serious issue. The river, which flows through Belthangady and Bantwal, providing drinking water to lakhs of people and irrigating huge paddy fields and plantations along its course, might even dry up within a few days causing untold misery to the people, he said. Dr. Heggade was speaking to media persons near the river’s bathing point at Dharmasthala on April 13, Tuesday. 

According to Dr. Heggade, the water level has gone down because of declining rainfall in recent years. Moreover, a number of people use the waters of the Nethravathi for purposes of drinking and irrigation. He, therefore, advised the government to give up its idea of diverting the river to solve the water problems of other districts. Instead, constructing vented dams across the river to enable sufficient storage of water during the monsoons is a better idea because this stored water can be then used during the summer, he said. 

Dr. Heggade feels that hydel electric plants do not deplete water sources; instead, these projects strengthen the underground water table and assist in water retention during the hot days of summer. 

Dr Heggade said that awareness should be created among the pilgrims about the ill effects of water pollution. The authorities of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala have already undertaken several measures to educate pilgrims. He expressed concern over the pilgrims’ careless habits of leaving soap, clothes, and plastic bottles, which pollute the river.