Ooty: "Nilgiris is described as the water tank of South India for its rich water sources. The need of the hour is to conserve water sources in the hills and ensure that it is pollution-free," said B.K. Kumaran, president of the Nilgiris Ecology and Animals Welfare Samithi.
Stating that the Nilgiris is the origin of the Moyar and Bhavani rivers that are tributaries of the Cauvery, he said that the Gundapuzha and Pandiyar rivers which originate in the west of Gudalur flow down the hills to Kerala.
This apart there are dozens of reservoirs across the hills. These water sources take care of the water needs of humans and agriculture, besides catering to the needs of the livestock and wildlife. It is a known fact that the wealth of the plains depends upon the health of the hills.
"What is to be done at this juncture is to have a regular monitoring system in practice to halt any stealthy discharge of effluents and other wastes into water sources and streams to ensure that water in the hills remains healthy and pollution-free," Kumaran suggested.
S. Manogaran, president of the Coonoor Consumer Protection Association, wanted a plan of action across the hills to map natural water sources in the rural and urban limits and removal of encroachments in and around water sources.
"Mountains matter" only when air, soil and water are conserved and managed well in the mountains, he added.
