With rain being sparse in the Nilgiris from November last, and certain parts of Udhagamandalam already receiving only intermittent water supply, activists here have called for water-saving measures.
G. Janardhan, president of the Ooty Public Awareness Trust, said that the district administration should initiate steps to preserve wetlands in the town. He said that wetland near the Udhagamandalam Railway Station has already been destroyed.
“The Burnfoot Lake, which has been encroached upon by farmers and by a private water service provider, needs to be retrieved and rejuvenated. The water from the lake could then be used to meet the demands of local residents during the summer tourist season,” he added.
V. Sivadas, managing trustee of the Nilgiri Environment and Cultural Service Trust, said that the water bodies in the district, such as the Ooty Lake and the Sandynallah Reservoir need to be cleaned.
“They provide water not just for those living downstream, but for animals too,” he said, adding that the capacity of the dams could be increased by cleaning them.
