A round table discussion organised under the aegis of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) has demanded the implementation of recommendations made by the People’s Commission on Vembanad Ecosystem. It was inaugurated by Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) director Joy Elamon here on Thursday.
Speakers at the discussion urged authorities to implement various flood-mitigation measures in Kuttanad. It urged panchayat authorities to initiate measures to clean waterbodies, including canals, and deepen rivers to ensure the flow of water.
To ensure hygiene, bio-toilets developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, could be used in Kuttanad, the meeting said.
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Houseboats’ licence
It urged the government to stop issuing licences to houseboats without any limit. Bio-toilets should be made mandatory in houseboats.
The meeting further said that the area of Vembanad Lake declined by 37%. It demanded steps to determine the boundaries of the lake. Fish and duck farming along with rice cultivation should be encouraged, it said.
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The KSSP will organise a scrap and plastic collection drive in Kuttanad on October 2. The amount received from selling the waste will be handed over to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
The discussion was moderated by KSSP president T. Gangadharan. Scientist M.P. Parameswaran, Commission member K.G. Padmakumar, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies former Vice Chancellor B. Madhusoodhana Kurup, KSSP general secretary T.K. Meerabai, Integrated Rural Technology Centre director S. Sreekumar and others spoke.