Sir,

Out of 210 million litres of water that Mysuru city is getting, it is reported that a whopping 90 million litres are wasted which amounts to nearly 45 percent indicating something  seriously wrong in water management of the system (’90 million litres of water wasted every day in city’ SOM dated Mar.15, 2024).

No details have been given about how this wastage occurs. If history of the wastage is of any guide, there are two major causes, namely leakage in the system and illegal connections apart from some very old, damaged pipes not replaced.

Another source is attributable to the citizens not following some basic steps in conserving water. If one goes through the city, one can see people using water generously for washing their frontage, cleaning the compound walls apart from forgetting to stop pumping to check overflowing from overhead tanks.

After what has happened in Bengaluru, we must learn our lessons in Mysuru. Rainwater harvesting as suggested by Ramesh Kikkeri will help. Meanwhile, the government must come with guidelines                                          of do’s and don’ts in the use of water that should be scrupulously followed.

Before onset of monsoon, a system of digging shallow tanks at various places should be done to help agriculture. At the same time the government must seriously think of recycling of water that will become inevitable in an era of uncertainty of weather condition.

—H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Saraswathipuram, 15.3.2024

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