Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 30: It is the responsibility of the engineers to find viable solutions to protect people from the worries of impending droughts. To enable them to discharge this duty, the water percolation projects need to be encouraged, opined Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat executive engineer N narasimharaju.

Speaking after inaugurating a 12 day workshop on augmentation and management of water resources being held at NITK Suratkal on Monday July 28, he said that the daily rainfall in Dakshina Kannada district is enough to feed a vented dam. Still, only one per cent of the rainfall is being percolated in the district. The balance gets wasted as it reaches the sea, he lamented.

The fact that so much fresh water goes waste goes to show that our water management system is not efficient. In fact, over 20% of the borewells dug in the district fail. There is a need to conduct deeper study on this phenomenon with particular reference to geological aspects, he felt.

NITK director Prof Sandeep Sancheti presided. B M Doddamani delivered introductory address. Applied Mechanics head of department Dr Lakshman welcomed. M K Nagaraju and Prof A V Hegde introduced guests on the dais. Kiran Shirlal conducted the programme and proposed vote of thanks.