- An initiation of Dr B R Shetty, BRS Recreation Pvt. Ltd.
- Flood Water Coastal Reservoir in the Arabian Sea
By An innovative technology by Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Professor in Civil Engineering and KSIIDC Chair Professor in the area of Energy and Mechanical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012.
Is Mangaluru Running out of Drinking Water? No, In fact Water is Running out in Mangaluru!
We all know that despite heavy rains, even flood situations arising in the coastal districts of Karnataka, particularly Dakshina Kannada district, Mangalore is experiencing drinking water shortage from March to June every year.
Why is it so? When there is no shortage of rainfall or water, still we are facing drinking water shortage. The fact is not a shortage of water but the shortage of water management or storage. If we manage our water scientifically and store what is needed carefully, there will be excess of water in Mangalore which can be supplied not only to the entire Karnataka state but even to the neighbouring states also.
Can we solve this problem? Is there any possibility of supplying drinking water to every Mangalorean 24 x 7 throughout the year? YES – there is a technology which can be implemented with all possibilities without damaging the environment.
From Nethravati river alone, every year more than 120 TMC of flood water runs off to the Arabian sea. This is just in 4 months from June to September. This is a huge quantity.Karnataka has a population of about 6 crores and if we supply 150 liters of water per day per person (as per UNO standards) total requirement of entire Karnataka is about 90 TMC. Nethravati river alone is enough to supply drinking water to every single house in Karnataka. But the irony is that Mangalore is facing drinking water shortage in the summer months.
Prof. T G Sitharam is proposing a new technology, SEA-BASED RESERVOIR, to impound this flood water during the rainy season and store in the coastal area within the sea itself by constructing a reservoir using sea walls. The size of the reservoir can be built as per the requirement which can also be done/extended in stages if more storage space is required.
This reservoir will be built just near the river mouth which joins the sea with all provision to capture only the flood water and excess flood water will still flow to the ocean carrying the silts without any hindrance or obstacles. During off-season or summer months’ seawater will flow up and down easily with high and low tides. By this construction, there will not be any disturbance to the natural course of river or damages done to the environment or marine life. Following are Benefits of sea-based reservoirs:
1. Flood water, which flows to the sea is captured which is otherwise wasted.
2. No damage to the environment, river course or marine life
3. No diversion of the river course, no submergence of land or forest or displacement of people
4. No disturbance to the habitats or villages or towns/cities
5. Ample storage of water which is enough for drinking and even irrigation purposes in the coastal area
6. Opportunity to breed freshwater fish in the sea-based reservoir and Additional fresh water fishing space for the local fishermen
7. New fishing harbours can be built along the sea walls in the deep sea.
8. Solar power can be generated on the side walls of the reservoir and also using floating solar panels in shallow waters
9. Opportunity to promote water sports in the reservoir
10. Increase in ground water table
11. Availability of fresh water sand in abundance for the construction industry.
There are many more benefits which can be discussed.
About Prof. T G Sitharam:
Dr Sitharam is a KSIIDC Chair Professor in the area of Energy and Mechanical Sciences at IISc and Senior Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. He was the former founder Chairman of a Center for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport and Urban Planning (CiSTUP) at IISc. He is presently the Chairman, AICTE Southwestern zonal committee, Regional office at Bengaluru and vice president, Indian Society for Earthquake Technology (ISET). He was also a Visiting Professor at Yamaguchi University, Japan, and ISM Dhanbad, Jharkhand. He had completed his Masters from Indian Institute of Science in 1986 and Ph.D. from University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada in 1991. He has developed many innovative technologies in the area of Civil and geotechnical applications leading to about 500 technical papers, seven books, three patents, more than 100 consulting projects and two start-up companies. He has guided 27 Ph.D. students and 25 Masters students and trained several postdoctoral and several thousand industry professionals and teachers through continuing education workshops.
Conservation of Water is the KEY. Managing the water scientifically and storing the water technologically is an essential fact. We have enough Monsoon water pouring all over the place for nearly four months. We have long and fertile rivers where we have to preserve the water from flowing freely into the wide ocean. We have discovered the ways and means of storing the hydrocarbons in underground caverns. We have found the ways and means of transferring our surplus water to other neighboring States. We have the best of experts who know their job well but they need outside help whenever applicable.
Water will always remain to be a precious commodity. Our growing population need more water each passing year. We must do something soon and we must do something smart.
Thanks for this report. This shows that there are still some people left in India who think about providing solutions to daily problems. Let me guess – none of the elected reps (‘white shirts’) had time for this event, right? They were probably too busy posing for the camera at ‘udghaatana samarambha’!!! Majority of Mangaloreans are busy either hating each other on religious lines or advocating idiotic things like ‘kori katta’ and kambala. Then you wonder why Mangaluru looks like Ethiopia!!