Expressing concern over the depleting groundwater level in Kolar district, S. Sateesh, Joint Director, (South Range), Department of Mines and Geology, has called for concerted efforts to solve the problem.
He was speaking at a workshop on groundwater resources here on Wednesday.
The presence of fluoride and arsenic contents in groundwater in the district was a cause for concern, he said. If groundwater was replenished, the concentration of fluoride and arsenic could be reduced, he said.
He underlined the need for strictly implementing the new legislation aimed at checking exploitation of groundwater.
The former Regional Director of the Central Ground Water Board Doolappa Gowrashetty said the role of farmers was vital in harvesting rainwater so as to improve the groundwater level. Recharge shafts should be constructed in tanks apart from dredging the tanks, he said.
Kolar Zilla Panchayat president Chowdeshwari, who presided over the inaugural session, said mass migration could take place in the region if groundwater exploitation goes unchecked.
The district was already facing shortage of drinking water, she said, and added that women were the worst sufferers of the problem.
Kolar Taluk Panchayat president C. Bhagyalakshmi released a booklet ‘ Antarjala Sampatthu at the programme.
Zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer M.S. Zulfikarullah said similar workshops would be conducted in all taluks.
