Mysuru: A group of like-minded individuals having a common mission to ‘Save River Cauvery’ met at Madurai from Dec. 9 to 12 and resolved to highlight the way the river and its basins are destroyed by indiscriminate industrialisation and destruction of green cover.

The meeting ‘National Consultation on Restoration of River Water’ was called by internationally-acclaimed water conservationist, Dr. Rajendra Singh and over 60 representatives and water experts from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu attended.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare also attended. From Kodagu, President of Coorg Wildlife Society Colonel (Rtd.) C.P. Muthanna and Founder of Save Cauvery Trust K. Sajan Aiyappa were part of the meeting.

Brainstorming for two days, the meeting resolved to impress upon the government to treat River Cauvery from its origin at Talacauvery in Kodagu to Poompuhar in Tamil Nadu as a single entity on the lines of River Ganga and Yamuna.

Various dimensions of the issue, such as the destruction of forests in the Western Ghats and its impact on the river, especially in Talacauvery and drinking water for various cities and towns in the Cauvery basin, apart from irrigation facilities, were discussed.

River Cauvery must be looked beyond political and State boundaries and stakeholders should decide on how to keep the river clean and implement steps like afforestation. Modern water management and water efficiency methods must be adopted. The meeting called for rice intensification — growing more with less water — and a diversification of cropping pattern.

Water user co-operative societies must be promoted to improve water management and Save Western Ghats movement has to be strengthened. The participants felt that the entire source area of the river in the Western Ghats must be declared as a ‘no-violation zone’ where no large construction or urbanisation can be permitted which includes Railway lines, power lines, four-lane highways, mining activity and other projects.

The meeting resolved to protect the river from the perils of rapid urbanisation, water tourism, linear development projects and sand mining and to impress upon the authorities to frame stringent rules to regulate the growth of industries along the course of the river.

As a next step to implement the resolution, Dr. Rajendra Singh from Rajasthan, who is also known as the “Waterman of India,” will meet Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and present him a memorandum.

He will also appeal to the Minister to initiate steps to save River Cauvery which is already being destroyed by indiscriminate development.