Southern States - Kerala   

Government to evolve new water policy

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM March 21. The Government proposes to evolve a water policy which is in tune with the times. The Water Resources Minister, T.M. Jacob, who announced this in a message here today in connection with World Water Day which is being observed tomorrow, said the thrust of the policy would be on protecting the water resources of the State and their utilisation in a planned and farsighted manner.

He said that Kerala received more rainfall than other States. It was estimated to be around 3,000 mm per year. The State also had 44 rivers, 19 fresh water lakes, several other water spreads, around 250 wells per sq. km. which was the highest in the world and innumerable large and small streams, ponds and lakes.

In spite of it, the per capita availability of rain and potable water was one of the lowest in the country. Pipe water was now available to 79 per cent of the urban and 58.7 per cent of the rural population. The Government's plan was to cover cent per cent of the urban and 90 per cent of the rural population. In order to achieve that target, the Government had given shape to three schemes in addition to the existing ones.

They were the rain water harvesting scheme, the Jalavahini which involved the revival, conservation and tapping of traditional sources for meeting local requirements and the Jalanidhi which consisted of projects identified, executed and managed by the people at the ward level of panchayats.

Mr. Jacob said the target was to provide potable water to everyone by 2007. He expected to achieve it with the help of the Centrally-aided accelerated rural water supply schemes, the Swajaldhara scheme, the schemes being implemented with the funds provided by the Eleventh Finance Commission and those being implemented with the help of financial institutions like the LIC and the Hudco.

The Minister said that factors like good rainfall for only 100 days a year and the flow of most of this rainwater into the rivers and the sea were responsible for the State's water problems. It could be solved to a large extent if each gram panchayat harvested rainwater on at least one hectare of land. Check dams and sub-surface dams should also be constructed for impounding river water during the rainy season. He felt that individuals too could make contributions in this area.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• LDF calls off fast by MLAs
• Centre clears health project for WB aid
• Free ration for tribals
• UDF to go ahead with fast: Chandy
• Sara Joseph to return award
• Priority to traffic system in Kollam budget
• Government to evolve new water policy

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu