Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said the state was witnessing a reduction in water availability over the years and therefore, a water budget was necessary for proper utilization and preventing wastage of the precious resource.
Speaking after inaugurating the release of the public water budget, Vijayan said that despite 44 rivers, several backwaters, lakes, ponds, streams and good rainfall, many parts of the southern state were facing water shortage during summer. Was.
“Therefore, the use of water should be regulated according to its availability in an area. This is where water budgeting comes in.
“This is the first project of its kind in the country and will be an example for other states to emulate,” the chief minister said after inaugurating the third phase of the project ‘Eni Njan Ojukaate’ (Now let me flow) for irrigation rehabilitation. ” Network in the Western Ghats.
He said that the water budget is intended to take into account the water needs of each region and the availability of water there and regulate its use accordingly. “This will create awareness among the public against unnecessary wastage of water and through this we can achieve water conservation,” he said.
His words assume significance as Kerala has been witnessing extreme temperatures coupled with water scarcity in many parts of the state over the last few weeks.
During his address, Vijayan said that though the state has been receiving good rainfall every year, the availability of water is decreasing. Despite this, the availability of water in Kerala is thrice the national average, he claimed. “Our actions and uses” were one of the many reasons for the decrease in the availability of water. , but over the years many of these have been shelved.
Vijayan said work was underway to build more ponds, protect our streams and rejuvenate other water bodies, and was being diligently carried out by the local self-government institutions (LSGIs), which are now entrusted with the water budget. entrusted with the responsibility of implementation. ,
The Chief Minister said that the water budget would be prepared by a committee of various experts along with officers of the Water Resources Development and Management Center and the State Water Resources Department.
He said that the first phase of water budgeting has been completed in 94 gram panchayats in 15 block panchayats in the state. “It is expected to be extended to other panchayats in a time-bound manner,” he said.
He said that summer rain water should be stored and used, which requires a change in mindset, as it would mean that no farming can be done during summer. “The LSGI will have to take steps in this regard and will get all possible help from the Haritha Kerala Mission,” he added.
Regarding the rehabilitation of irrigation network in the Western Ghats, Vijayan said that under the first and second phase of the project, about 7,290 km of irrigation network has been rejuvenated.
Giving details of the water budgeting exercise carried out in 15 block panchayats, TN Seema, Coordinator of Navakeralam Karma Methodology, told PTI that in most places the study found that water is in excess, but in such places there is water shortage. Is. Due to lack of water during summer.
“Volunteers, resource persons and technical committee members have considered all water sources in each panchayat, including rainfall, wetlands, canals and other water bodies, and also calculated the demand from humans and animals, agriculture and industries.
“Therefore, specific recommendations have been provided to each panchayat as part of the water budget,” he added.
He said that the committee has found that agriculture has come to a standstill at many places due to non-availability of water.
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