Date:04/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030402100400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Ministry for groundwater conservation sought

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: In the light of the fast depleting groundwater level, the Government should create a separate ministry for conserving and managing groundwater resources in the State, suspended Janata Dal (Secular) legislator B.R. Patil has said.

He told presspersons here on Saturday that the Government had been making coordinated efforts to manage its groundwater resources through many of its departments.

If the Government failed to streamline its surface and groundwater management mechanism with futuristic views, the depleting underground water table would affect agriculture, irrigation system and dairying, Mr. Patil said. It would also affect the economy of those depending on agriculture farming and other related areas, he said.