The State has for the first time created an Environment Protection and Energy Development Fund with a starting allocation of Rs.10 crore in the current budget, said M. Naganathan, Vice-Chairman, State Planning Commission.
“Tree-plantation activity in private fallow land will also be intensified,” he said inaugurating a seminar ‘Looking forward: Challenges of climate on water and land' here on Monday.
The event was organised by Anna University along with the State Planning Commission and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to celebrate World Water Day.
Pointing out that issues of sanitation and access to clean drinking water have socio-economic dimensions, Dr. Naganathan said: “While 92 per cent of the urban population has access to clean drinking water, only 72 per cent of the rural population has such access.”
Anna University Vice-Chancellor P. Mannar Jawahar said the city would experience water shortage if it continued to meet 80 per cent of its drinking water needs by tapping groundwater.
Stressing that forest cover and water availability are inter-related, Environment and Forests Secretary Debendranath Sarangi said: “Proactive measures must be made to preserve and expand existing forest cover.”
Officials from various government departments and college students distributed questionnaires on the Marina and Elliot's beaches to understand the level of public awareness on water-related issues.
“No rocket science”
At another meeting, speakers said that the city's water systems need proactive attention by the multiplicity of agencies.
“This is not rocket science,” said K Phanindra Reddy, member secretary of Chennai River Restoration Trust, slamming the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Slum Clearance Board and others for their laxity in sewage treatment among other concerns.
Mr. Reddy was responding to recommendations that were the result of a day of deliberation between scientists, NGOs and representatives of the CMDA, TNPCB, Sewage Board, Tamil Nadu Planning Commission and Department of Environment and Forests at IIT Madras on Monday.
These included ensuring better coordination of departments and introducing a water protection force .
