Malayalam writer M. Mukundan has said that the water scarcity that people are now facing is a result of human greed to ‘swallow the entire earth.’
Inaugurating a district-level water conservation campaign of the district panchayat at Chattukappara here on Tuesday, he said that it was saddening to see sand-laden lorries plying across what were once flowing rivers. Fifty years ago, there was greenery and water streams in homesteads, he recalled.
“We should blame ourselves for water scarcity in places that used to receive 3,100 mm rainfall a year,” Mr. Mukundan said, addinig Punjab that received one-fourth of that rainfall had adequate water. Water scarcity was experienced as a result of degradation of nature, he said. Appreciating the growing awareness about the urgency of water conservation in recent times, the writer said imaginative initiatives could ensure recharge of groundwater by slowing drainage of rain water.
District panchayat president K.V. Sumesh, vice-president P.P. Divya and District Police Chief Siva Vikram G. were among those present at the programme.
