Karnataka

Organizers:

• Vikalp Bengaluru
• maraa
• CONCERN

Venue: Satish Dhawan Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Sadashivnagar, Bangalore

Organizer: Citizen's Voluntary for the city of Bangalore

Venue: SCM House, Mission Road, Bangalore

Topics:

• Overall picture of water supply - population v/s availability - present and future
• Increasing BWSSB efficiency - plans for reducing 50% unaccounted water

Organizer: Centre for Holistic Learning

Venue: Huthina Betta campus, Sirsi, Karnataka

Description:

The workshop addresses the self in the human being. It draws attention to human needs - need for human relationships, inherent desire to seek knowledge, and the joy that we naturally derive from these. In our current situation, we might be seeking different things. Thus, it brings about a dialogue between what we are and what we want to be. It does not posit happiness in an after-world, but here and now, based on a "humanness" common to all human beings. The approach is rational, secular and universal.

The Americans are coming for our water. Stop the water Terrorists!

Organizer: The Right to Water Campaign Karnataka

Venue: SCM House, off Mission Road, Bangalore

Organizer: University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK

Venue: Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru

Topics:

• Forest bio-resources - Diversity and Documentation
• Forest bio-resources - NTFPs, Medicinal plants and livelihood

This paper presents the case of Khazana Bawali - a large ancient well that irrigated around 1000 acres in the past but is now in disrepair. The well is about 20 metres in diameter which stores rainwater from the neighbouring hills. The water is brought through underground tunnels that have ventilators at regular intervals to ensure fresh air and also to help in its manual cleaning. This well today irrigates only about 525 acres. It was built by the Jagirdar of Beed in 1582.

This paper discusses the role of paleochannels, which are remnants of stream channels cut in older rocks/sediments and filled by younger overlying sediments, representing the distribution of valley systems, in meeting current and future water requirements.

This paper describes a lake in one of the forests through which the Hindu god Ram and his brother Laxman passed, during their search for Sita. A virtual picture of the forest and the lake (Pampa Sarovara) in it using the Valmiki Ramayana which is a religious biopic of Ram's life on earth is created. This lake is situated near the town of Hampi in Karnataka today, and the forest is a rich source of water to this day.

This paper focuses on water management techniques used in two tanks constructed by the kings of the Vijaynagar Empire.

The first example taken, is that of the Anantraj Sagar built by the son of the minister of Harihar. The lake is still in use and there are inscriptions on stone near it which provide a thumb rule to constructing lakes. Construction of this lake began in 1369 and was completed in 2 years. The paper states that the length of the dam was 5000 dand, width was 8 dand and the height was 7 dand (One dand is about one metre).

This paper begins with an analysis of the rationale for idol immersion in Hinduism. Some of the reasons given by the author include water being able to disintegrate idols, the idea of purity of water etc.