Thodupuzha, 22-01-2010
Inaugurating the seminar on Water Security, Sri N K Premachandran, Hon. Minister for Water Resources, said that the state of Kerala is facing a crisis in water resource management. The states' rainfall is higher that the national average but the water crisis is increasing day by day. Not so long ago the state had excess water resources and was supplying water to the neighboring states. But the situation is very different now. The government is undertaking a water security programme in order to solve the problems in water availability and quality with an active participation of the general piblic, he said. He also mentioned that the government, with an aid of Rs. 211 crores from the world bank, is launching a project for the maintenance and improvement of 35 dams in the state. A benchmarking will be introduced for the irrigation system. He also said that water scarcity can be solved only by protecting the existing water sources and the environment.
In his speach, Sri S. Rathish, Director, Communication & Capacity Development Unit, said that the decreasing water resources and the degrading water quality is gravely affecting the drinking water supply in the state. About 15000 metric tons of solid water is left untreated per year, he said.
Sri V Surendran Pillai MLA presided over the meeting. World Malayalee Council chairman Sri. George Kulangara, Sri. Noble Joseph and Sri. N V Varkey Nirappel also gave talks during the seminar.
Its going to get worse,monsoons are going to arrive very late this year. The conversion of wetlands and paddy fields are not helping too. Farmers are diverting to other crops and stopping the cultivation of rice because the gains are very low. Government should also give more subsidys and grants to paddy farmers and encourage those who work in paddy fields. If we start to revive the Rice fileds and cultivation,the water crisis can be controlled to a great extent.
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