Mysuru: National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), in association with School of Planning and Architecture and Indian Institute of Architects, will host a seminar on ‘Water crisis and management’ at Senate Bhavan in Manasagangothri here on Aug. 21 at 5.30 pm.

NAREDCO convener N. Divyesh told reporters that the seminar will be addressed by Ayyappa Masagi, who is popularly referred to as “Water Magician”, “Water Warrior”, “Water Gandhi” and “Water Doctor.”  The seminar is aimed at educating and creating awareness among people on rainwater harvesting.

Masagi was conferred Jamnalal Award for being instrumental in converting 32,000 hectares of dry land into wet land, and recharging over 90,000 borewells, constructing 500 lakes and conducting over 4,000 training, awareness programmes and workshops across the country.

He has been featured in the Limca Book of Records for constructing thousands of lakes and recharging borewells. He founded Water Literacy Foundation and Rain Water Concepts, non-profit organisations, to spread water conservation awareness among masses to make India a water-efficient nation.

At the seminar, Ayyappa Masagi will give a presentation on ‘Swacha Kaveri’, a project initiated by NAREDCO to clean and conserve river Cauvery.

Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, Acting VC of Mysore University Prof. Dayanand Mane, University Registrar D. Bharathi, School of Planning and Architecture Director H.N. Nagendra and Indian Institute of Architects President Chandrashekar will be the guests of honour.

“Instead of finding permanent solutions to tide over water crisis, the government keeps implementing irrelevant schemes. With the help of CFTRI research team, NAREDCO has found over 21 hazardous chemicals in Cauvery water, which is worrying,” Divyesh said and added that was why NAREDCO had taken up a project to clean Cauvery.

Deepak Lulla, who is the President of Habitat Shelters and D. Srihari of GSS Foundation, will unveil ‘Swacha Kaveri’ plans.