<p>Rainwater Harvesting expert N J Devaraja Reddy from Chitradurga said that there is a need to initiate a water revolution as existing water sources have been contaminated leading to a shortage of clean drinking water.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was addressing the gathering during a seminar on ‘Water Harvesting, Groundwater Preservation and Uses’ at the 70th Shivanubhava Sammelana organised by Shivadhwaita Tatwa Prachara Kendra in Giriyapura in Birur recently.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an act of overexploiting groundwater resources, more than four crore borewells were sunk using modern technology, said Devarajareddy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In India, 80% of the groundwater has been exploited. But people continue to sink more borewells, he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many agriculturists were depending on borewells for irrigation. Even places like Udupi are facing drought due to lack of knowledge on preservation and effective utilisation of groundwater. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The expert said that rejuvenation of lakes, rainwater harvesting, recharging groundwater and percolation ponds were the need-of-the-hour.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Progressive farmer Chandrashekhara Naranapura presided over the session. Guru Kumarashrama senior trustee G C Siddappa delivered the keynote address.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivadhwaita Tatwa Prachara Kendra working president G C Shivalingappa was present.</p>
<p>Rainwater Harvesting expert N J Devaraja Reddy from Chitradurga said that there is a need to initiate a water revolution as existing water sources have been contaminated leading to a shortage of clean drinking water.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He was addressing the gathering during a seminar on ‘Water Harvesting, Groundwater Preservation and Uses’ at the 70th Shivanubhava Sammelana organised by Shivadhwaita Tatwa Prachara Kendra in Giriyapura in Birur recently.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In an act of overexploiting groundwater resources, more than four crore borewells were sunk using modern technology, said Devarajareddy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In India, 80% of the groundwater has been exploited. But people continue to sink more borewells, he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Many agriculturists were depending on borewells for irrigation. Even places like Udupi are facing drought due to lack of knowledge on preservation and effective utilisation of groundwater. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The expert said that rejuvenation of lakes, rainwater harvesting, recharging groundwater and percolation ponds were the need-of-the-hour.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Progressive farmer Chandrashekhara Naranapura presided over the session. Guru Kumarashrama senior trustee G C Siddappa delivered the keynote address.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivadhwaita Tatwa Prachara Kendra working president G C Shivalingappa was present.</p>
