The Hindu : Statutory authority sought for Pamba river

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

National

National

Statutory authority sought for Pamba river

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN 10. Ramesh Chennithala, Member of Parliament, has urged the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to sanction funds for the integrated cleaning of the Pamba river in Kerala under a single statutory authority.

The Centre has already cleared the first phase of the Pampa Action Plan costing Rs. 18.45 crores including the pollution abatement programme of Sabarimala and the Pamba region. The MP now wants the Government to give its approval to the Kerala Government's Action Plan submitted in December, 2002, amounting to Rs. 319.7 crores for cleaning up the river which is popularly known as "Dhakshina Ganga."

Based on my personal interaction in a series of discussions and public awareness meetings conducted by the Pampa Parirakshana Samithy, an environment organisation, I am convinced that nothing short of the total integrated approach designed to address the multi-dimensional aspect of the problem will bring in the desired results,'' he said in a letter to the Prime Minister written on January 8.

Mr. Chennithala pointed out that the contamination in the river was high and required urgent government attention. "About 30 lakh inhabitants of the Pamba river basin use this river for their daily needs," he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National