The Hindu : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Reader's Mail

Action plan needed

Sir,— It is high time an action plan for the Bharathapuzha is formulated. The `water literacy' among the people and their representatives is very low, which is hindering the preparation of an action plan.Already an action plan for the River Pampa has come into existence. The Bharathapuzha is the lone source of drinking water for 175 villages and 16 municipal towns. For the last two decades the flowing water in the river has considerably reduced. Even if the PAP agreement is updated it will not help in any way the availability of water for drinking and minor irrigation in the western stretch of the Bharathapuzha. For this, check dams and sub surface dams are essential for which proposals are already with the Government. But the people, their representatives and a section of environmentalists vehemently oppose this on account of negligible water literacy. Any action plan devoid of check dam chain is meaningless. Will the Government come out with a meaningful action plan?

T.N.N. Bhattathiripad

Thrissur

Is it viable?

Sir,— A majority of the people in the State has misgivings on the viability of the proposed 500-km-long expressway. For a State, which finds it difficult to make ends meet in the day-to-day affairs, this project appears to be a luxury that will aggravate its financial difficulties. The return from the project, even if it could be completed, is meagre when compared to the investment of about Rs. 7,000 crores. The State is running on heavy debts, exceeding Rs. 30,000 crores. For saving time and energy, air travel is the most convenient mode nowadays for those who can afford. Inter-district and State-level air traffic can be initiated at much lower cost than the proposed highway. The bypass roads and other roads should be given preference to help smooth traffic.

V. C. Emmanuel

Kottayam

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