Mysuru: Raising alarm over the rapid depletion of water resources due to unchecked urbanisation, former Irrigation Department Engineer H. Ramesh cautioned that Mysuru could face a severe water crisis within the next 15 years if immediate measures are not taken to use water judiciously.

He was speaking at a workshop on ‘Rainwater Harvesting and Plumbing Technologies for Groundwater Table Improvement in Borewells and Open Wells’, organised by the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Plumbing and Underground Drainage Workers Welfare Association at the Institution of Engineers on JLB Road here recently.

“Even regions in South Interior Karnataka that receive relatively high rainfall are now dependent on water tankers during summer. This should serve as a wake-up call,” Ramesh warned, emphasising the urgent need for public awareness and responsible water usage.

He underlined that rainwater harvesting is key to sustaining water needs and recharging groundwater levels. “It is worrying that numerous lakes and tanks have vanished, replaced by buildings, apartments, and commercial complexes,” he said.

Citing the example of Bengaluru, Ramesh noted that the number of water bodies has drastically reduced from 288 to just 33. “Mysuru is not far behind, as many natural water bodies have either dried up or been encroached upon for commercial purposes. This has led to a sharp decline in groundwater levels, contributing to rising water scarcity,” he noted

The event was attended by Institution of Engineers (India) Chairman Dr. R. Deepu, office-bearers N.S. Mahadevaswamy and M.K. Nanjaiah, Association President S. Mahesh, Secretary Ravikumar and others.