Mysuru: Rainwater harvesting and letting out shower water from the bathrooms through “Ingu Gundi” are the only ways to increase groundwater levels, said Ayyappa M. Masagi who is popularly referred to as “Water Doctor”.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Water Crisis and Management’ at Senate Bhavan here on Aug. 21 that was jointly organised by National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), in association with School of Planning and Architecture and Indian Institute of Architects.

Masagi, a Jamnalal Bajaj Awardee, told Mysureans that India, especially Karnataka was staring at a huge water crisis and if the value of conserving nature, groundwater and natural water streams is not realised now, it will be too late.

“We have to blame ourselves for the present water shortage as there is nobody to listen to the problem. People take things for granted and this will prove detrimental to humanity one day,” Masagi  opined.  

“The traditional concept of “Ingu Gundi” where household water (not sewage) is collected in small pits next to the houses can work wonders in recharging groundwater that is fast depleting,” he said. Explaining the “Ingu Gundi” concept, Masagi said earth was the biggest filter that can store water underground after cleansing it. “Earlier – even now in villages – shower water is let out to such “Ingu Gundi” and as a result, the groundwater table is high. Now-a-days, shower water is let out to drains and eventually it becomes sewage,” he added.

Through simple pit-based rainwater harvesting system where the structure is made of boulders, gravel, sand, and mud, water can effectively be channelised to the ground. When it rains, water trickles through gravel and sand and it slowly charges the subsoil. This also prevents water from evaporating, he said.

Masagi said recharging borewells and practising non-irrigational agriculture methods were the answers to water problems farmers faced. “Concepts like tree-based farming, earthen dams, and afforestation can recharge groundwater. Rain is caused by sun, sea and trees,” he explained.

School of Planning and Architecture Director H.N. Nagendra presented a power-point demo on ‘Swacha Kaveri’, a project initiated by NAREDCO to clean and conserve River Cauvery. Acting VC of Mysore University Prof. Dayanand Mane, Indian Institute of Architects President Chandrashekar, NAREDCO Mysuru convener N. Divyesh, NAREDCO Karnataka President Manoj Lodha and D. Srihari of GSS Foundation were present.