DINDIGUL
A second ‘Sathyagraha’ is the need of the hour for effective water conservation and eradication of drought in the State, and effective community participation is essential to achieve it, Rajendra Singh, chairman, Tarun Bharat Sangh, has said.
Talking to media persons at Gandhigram on Monday, he said earlier, community had the rights on water and protected water sources from pollution and encroachment. The government took over their control and did not support the local communities. Then, corporate companies started exploiting water sources indiscriminately.
Now, the Tamirabarani in Tirunelveli district had been facing a serious threat to its survival owing to heavy pollution. Toilets were constructed on its banks and concrete structures were created on the river. Already, Tamil Nadu had disputes on sharing Cauvery and Krishna waters.
Potable water had become a rare commodity. All waterbodies were highly polluted. The people in power were not listening to the woes of people. The ‘Satyagraha’ would make them listen, he said.
Mr. Singh said the State did not face such a severe drought a few decades ago. Change in climate, erratic rainfall and crop failure affected farmers.
People needed a literacy movement. Politicians should have a heart for the poor, but unfortunately, they did not have that. Community-based water conservation measures in a decentralised manner would be viable solution to the existing crisis. Community should take the initiative to rejuvenate rivers, tanks and ponds, he stressed.
After 15 years of a prolonged struggle by tribal people at Plachimadai village in Palghat district in Kerala, a special committee constituted by the Kerala government recommended that the company that polluted waterbodies should pay a compensation to the people. Now the panchayat had powers to decide it. Empowering the people would bring a change in society, he added.
Gandhigram Trust secretary K. Sivakumar said non-governmental organisations and volunteers would be roped in to take up this mission, he pointed out.
