Major plans to save water

Launch of Jalasree, a comprehensive project for the conservation of water resources in Thiruvananthapuram district, by next month.

The Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat is planning to launch Jalasree, a comprehensive project for the conservation of water resources in the district, by next month.

The project would be implemented in 73 grama panchayats and 11 block panchayats, district panchayat president V.K. Madhu said on Tuesday.

He was delivering the inaugural address at the grama sabha held in connection with the formation of the district panchayat’s annual plan for 2017-18. Jalasree, put forward by the District Planning Committee, is the successor of earlier projects such as ‘Ente Puzha, Ente Jalashayam’ and ‘Mazhathavalam,’ under which 87,000 rainwater harvesting pits were built. The project consists of four phases. The first one comprises a survey of potential water resources, while in the second phase, a water literacy campaign will be conducted.

The ward-level cleaning and protection of ponds and canals will form part of next phase.

Further, the district panchayat aims to recharge all the wells in the area under its ambit as part of Jalasree. At least one pond in every panchayat will be converted into a pond exclusive for swimming. The local body intends to conduct the first phase in May, Mr. Madhu says.

The implementation of Jalasree is envisaged to take place with the participation of people’s representatives, residents’ associations, volunteers and organisations like Kudumbasree, he says.

The district panchayat aims to expand its efforts to the cleaning up of rivers and lakes in the next year.

Over 450 projects

A total 454 draft projects including Jalasree, devised by various working groups, were discussed by block-level groups at the grama sabha, which saw the participation of the heads of block panchayats, grama panchayats and standing committees, and project implementing officers.

Suggestions on integrating the projects in order to avoid duplication and ensure viability were submitted by the groups to the district panchayat. They will be discussed and the projects finalised at a district panchayat committee meeting next week.

Speedy implementation

With the State government mandating that 70% of the plan fund has to be utilised by December, the habit of rushing to use up funds in the last three months will be done away with, Mr. Madhu says.

The DPC is now allowed to approve project proposals before technical sanctions are obtained, thereby making it possible to get approvals by May and begin implementation in June, he says.