Speaking to mediapersons at a press meet organised here on recently, they said, in order to seek solution from this serious problem, there was a need to launch an all-party agitation seeking for the implementation of a permanent drinking water project in Bagepalli.
They said, Bagepalli was one of the most backward taluks in the State. Water bodies like tanks and ponds are the only sources of water. And these tanks and ponds solely dependent on good rainfall. These water bodies serve for multi-purpose activities, right from agriculture to drinking water. Unfortunately, due to inadequate rainfall, these tanks are ponds are drying up of late. Making matters worse, these tanks and ponds are full of silt, which affect the storage capacity of water. Thus, once upon a time, these tanks and ponds which had deep beds, are now having reduced to flat surfaces, thereby reducing the water storage capacity in them, they informed.
Depleting groundwater
]The ground-water level is fast depleting and the people are forced to opt for sinking borewells for agriculture and drinking water purpose. These borewells are drilling water from the depths of the earth, thus giving way to the release of flouride in the water. For the last ten years, people of Bagepalli have been consuming water with high levels of flouride content. Almost every litre of drinking water contains more than two grams of flouride. Several people are being affected by this water, leading to disabilities of various forms. Children are the most affected, the former TP members explained.
The matter was assuming serious proportions and until and unless an awareness was created among the public, the consequences of this would be far-reaching. A comprehensive approach should be followed to tackle this problem.
The elected representatives from this region should take some concrete steps in this regard, on a war-footing basis. They should begin the desilting of the ponds and tanks and clear them from encroachments.
Old wells, kalyanis, tanks and ponds should be rejuvenated and the sources of water should be identified. Soak pits should be installed to ensure that water did not go waste.
In order to increase the groundwater level, an awareness programme on a large scale should be launched in the taluk, the leaders suggested.