Industries in State may have to recycle water compulsorily

The State government plans to make recycling of water mandatory for major and medium industries, Water Resources Minister M B Patil said on Saturday.

Speaking after inaugurating a workshop - Mirco Irrigation: A Way Forward - he said the existing industries will be given three years’ time to set up recycling units. Establishing recycling units will be one of the conditions for setting up industries in the State, he said.

The Water Resources department has been exploring the possibility of introducing micro irrigation for paddy cultivation. Discussions are being held with experts in this regard. A plan has been already drawn up to bring sugar cane cultivation under drip irrigation. The State can save an estimated 200 tmc ft of water per annum if these two crops are brought under micro irrigation, he said.

Development Commissioner Latha Krishna Rau said the State had to come out with a separate legislation on utilisation of water. People are not aware of the importance of water. It is because water is being supplied at a highly subsidised rate. Reckless usage can be prevented by fixing the actual price of drinking water supply to people, she said.

Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the government was considering a separate policy for mirco irrigation with an intention to encouraging people to use water judiciously. The third world war, if it happens, will be for water, if the present trend of over-exploitation of water continues, he warned.

About 84 per cent of agricultural land are dependent on underground water in the State, resulting in depletion of the water table. Of the 84 lakh hectares of farmland, only about 6 lakh hectares are under micro irrigation, he said.