Going by the allocations in the State Budget for 2012-13 the expansion/augmentation of drinking water supply systems seem to be a priority area for Finance Minister K. M. Mani. The second phase of the Jalanidhi scheme, which will be implemented in 200 panchayats across eight districts this year, has been allocated Rs.110 crore. The five-year second phase, which will be flagged off this year, will require a total allocation of Rs.1,022 crore, the budget speech says.
The JICA scheme will be extended to Ernakulam district. For this and for the JICA schemes being implemented in Thiruvananthapuram, Meenad, Cherthala, Kozhikode and Pattuvam, the budget has set aside Rs.300 crore.
Desalination plants will be set up in coastal areas of the State and in the Kuttanad area where drinking water scarcity is acute. For this the budget has set apart Rs.15 crore. The budget also envisages a comprehensive drinking water scheme for the 10 panchayats and adjoining areas in the Haripad Assembly constituency.
Pond clean-up
The Finance Minister has set apart Rs.85 crore for the phased replacement of drinking water distribution pipes in the State. For a scheme for the rejuvenation of ponds and other drinking water sources in the State, Rs. 47 crore has been set aside. This year, one pond in every panchayat will be cleaned and rejuvenated.
River basin development schemes will be implemented for the conservation and proper utilisation of water sources. In 2012-13 such schemes will be implemented on an experimental basis for the rivers Bharathapuzha, Chaliyar, and Pampa. For this, Rs.13 crore has been set aside. Further action will be initiated on the Meenachil Valley Irrigation Scheme once the report of the expert committee on the project is submitted to the government. The budget has set aside Rs.50 crore for this project.
