Soon, the citizens in Ernakulam district will get access to micro-level information on the proposed development and rejuvenation plans for the various water resources in their region.
The initiative will be part of the Jalasamridhi Mission under the Haritha Keralam programme that aims at protection of water resources based on integrated watershed-based resource management planning. A website to be launched as part of the rejuvenation and restoration of water resources in the district will provide micro-level information beneficial to the local communities.
“The public could view the watershed-based master plans for the entire local bodies in Ernakulam on the website. It will have micro-level information on aspects like the number of ponds, streams in each region besides the rejuvenation projects being proposed for each water body,” said Sujith Karun, district co-ordinator of the Haritha Keralam Mission.
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The watershed master plans for the 82 grama panchayats and 13 municipalities in the district are ready. It will now be compiled at the block-level before submitting the plans for approval by the District Planning Committee. A comprehensive watershed master plan for Ernakulam will be uploaded on the public domain by mid-February, according to preliminary assessments made by the Haritha Keralam Mission.
The public will get access to watershed maps prepared at the panchayat-level on the website. It will also have the technical reports prepared by a committee comprising elected representatives, and officials belonging to departments that include Water Resources, Planning, Local-Self Government, agriculture and others.
The knowledge gained from water resources at the micro level will be shared on the public platform.
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The objective of the project is to inculcate a new culture in conserving, utilising and sustainably managing water resources besides ensuring equitable distribution for drinking and irrigation.