Mysore/Mysuru: Karnataka Praja Party has urged the Government to confer ‘Water Conservation Expert’ award on ‘Pondman’ Kamegowda, who recently hit the headlines after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to him in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on All India Radio (AIR) last month.

In a press release, Party President  B. Shivanna said that Kamegowda, who was born in a poor family at Dasanadoddi in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, has become the modern day ‘Bhageeratha’ by reviving and re-charging numerous water bodies around his village. Pointing out that despite his old age, the 82-year old Kamegowda is enthusiastically engaged himself in water conservation, he said that his commitment for saving water bodies is a model to the society. As such, the Government must honour him with ‘Water Conservation Expert’ award and also institute an annual prize in his name to be given to genuine water conservationists, he said.