Mangalore : The Coastal Development Authority organized a workshop on utilization of river water in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi at Karnataka Bank Auditorium, Kodialbail on May 13, Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Coastal Development Authority chairman B Nagaraj Shetty said that there is no scarcity of water in the district, but the borewell facilities are getting decreased.
Speaking on the Nethravathi River Diversion, he said that no one knows from where the word appeared, but it became so popular that there are many people to oppose this project including the Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji from Pejawar Mutt and Dr D Veerendra Heggade.
He also said that, the coastal development authority does not have any intention to cheat the common people as well as the farmers of the district by taking the water and giving to other states. But it is working to protect the water being wasted by flowing to the sea and rivers.
Delivering the introductory speech on the occasion, Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak, member of Coastal Development Authority said that the workshop has been organized to discuss the matter on the basic facility and the suggestion given to provide for the project.
The state government has given the name of ‘Soubhagya Sanjeevini’ for the usage of river water. The experts must give the suggestions for the workshop which is practically possible or is it necessary to be done, he said.
Delivering key note address on the occasion, AG Kodgi, Chairman of the Task Force for Implementation of Third Finance Commission said that DK, Udupi and Kodagu district are the developed compared to all other districts which is classified as backward district.
He said that at present around 4500 MCM rain water gets into the district and there are altogether 13 rivers and even from the ground water around 30,000 MCM of water reaches the sea which is wastes.
Prof G V Joshi, Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management, Nitte delivered the speech in support to the key note address.
Dr Prabhakar Rao, secretary of Coastal Development Authority compered the programme. Meghana Pai rendered the invocation.
Deputy Speaker N Yogesh Bhat and MLA Kota Srinivas Poojary were present on the occasion.

Nagaraja Shetty inagurated Coastal Development Authority workshop