Hunsur:  The ‘Cauvery Calling’ bike rally campaign led by Isha Foundation Founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, which commenced from Talacauvery in Kodagu, entered Hunsur yesterday.

Addressing the gathering at Gowramma Convention Hall in the town, the Sadhguru contended that the Cauvery catchment area goes dry for about 5 months in a year and for over five decades there has been an environmental destruction like soil erosion and leaving soil infertile.

As agriculture is not a lucrative proposition, the youths are hesitant to venture into that sector drawing apprehension over the future food guarantee. The source of water is basically monsoon and not rivers or lakes as misconstrued which obviously demands afforestation, an urgent need of the hour, he said.

Farmers of the region prefer to grow tobacco, being a cash crop, which in the long run will be detrimental, opined Sadhguru.

Former MP A.H. Vishwanath opined that Cauvery is not just for water but is a lifeline for society. He asked the Government to think on conserving the natural resources without exploiting them on the pretext of development.

Film actors Rakshit Shetty, Diganth and Ragini Dwivedi, Sri Nataraja Swamy of Gavadagere Gurlinga Jangamadeva Mutt, Dy.SP K.S. Sundar Raj, Agri-Scientist Shankar and others were present.