The State Budget presented by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has set apart ₹25 crore for supporting various people’s initiatives for rejuvenation of rivers in the State.
According to him, as many as 24 rivers, having a total length of 1,017 km, are getting to be rejuvenated.
The Minister said the popular initiatives for river rejuvenation under the aegis of the Harita Keralam mission was becoming yet another Kerala-model.
Varattar rejuvenation
He said the floods had underlined the importance of rivers and the water-holding capacity of river basins.
The experience of the people of Edanad on the Pampa river basin revealed that their area was spared only because of the rejuvenated Varattar that could divert the Pampa floodwaters to the Manimala river basin, he said.
The Minister also mentioned the popular initiatives for rejuvenation of rivers and streams such as the Varattar, Kuttamperoorar, Kolarayar, Meenachilar, Kodoorar, Pallikkalar, Meenatharayar, Kanampuzha, Killiyar, Karippelchal, etc. in his budget speech.
Dr. Isaac said the National Biodiversity Board has offered ₹25 crore for the proposed biodiversity development project on the Varattar river banks.
Watershed development
The Harita Keralam Mission has taken up the initiative to formulate comprehensive watershed development projects on the riverbed.
Additional resources would be made available from various Central agencies for executing these projects, he said.
Dr. Isaac also proposed the formation of a River Basin Authority aimed at boosting projects for conservation of Pampa, Periyar, and Bharathapuzha.
