Declare ground water state property: C T Ravi

BJP MLA C T Ravi on Thursday demanded that the state government take a policy decision to declare ground water as state property.

Ravi told reporters on Thursday the BJP had formed eight teams, which have been visiting drought-affected districts over the last few weeks.

He said the glaring problem in most districts was acute water shortage.

Ravi said depletion of the ground water table was also contributing to drought and sought framing of rules immediately to ensure that the already exploited groundwater is not misused further.

He also demanded that the authorities test water before supplying it through tankers as fluoride-laced water was said to have been supplied to villagers. Ravi said party president B S Yeddyurappa would furnish the final report on drought to both the Centre and the state on May 3.