Weak monsoon worries government

CM calls for participatory action to avoid water crisis

The State government has highlighted the need for long-term planning and participatory action to stave off a water crisis likely to be triggered by a weak monsoon.

In a statement made in the Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the weak southwest monsoon this year had come as a setback for the State at a time when it was struggling to handle the acute rainfall deficit last year.

Citing data released by the India Meteorology Department, he said Kerala had registered a rainfall deficit of 29.1% during the period from June 1 to August 16. Wayanad had the maximum deficit of 59% followed by Idukki with 36% and Thiruvananthapuram with 35%.

The major hydel reservoirs in the State were down to 35% of their storage capacity, 20 to 30% below the normal level. The crisis could aggravate if the situation continued till September end.

Mr. Vijayan said the southwest monsoon had delivered below normal rainfall in Kerala in seven of the last 10 years. The northeast monsoon had also failed the State six times during the decade. Climate change could be influencing the recurring rainfall deficit, he said.

Listing the slew of projects launched by the government to tide over the impending water crisis, he said 3,931 public wells were dug and more than 15,000 revived under the Haritha Keralam Mission. Besides this, 3,855 new ponds were built and 13,247 ponds rejuvenated across the State. Canals and streams were also being cleaned up, he said.

The government, he said, had set up three task forces to spearhead the water conservation projects. The task force committees would focus on rainwater harvesting and storage, construction and maintenance of check-dams and regulators, and cleaning of canals and ponds.

Mr. Vijayan said efforts were on to construct check-dams and revive waterholes in forests to ensure water supply for wild animals. Government offices had been directed to repair rainwater storage tanks and check wastage of water due to leaks. An awareness campaign on water conservation would be launched by the State Disaster Management Authority.

Mr. Vijayan stressed the need for a participatory effort to promote water efficiency, avoid the use of treated water for construction, and keep water bodies clean.