Thursday, Jun 16, 2005
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005 |
| Kerala | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Kerala
Special Correspondent
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Assembly Committee on Assurances has sought a ban on large-scale extraction of water by commercial units such as soft drink bottling plants and water theme parks during the height of summer. In a special report on the acute water scarcity being experienced by the State during the summer, the Committee said the overexploitation of water by soft drink bottling plants and water theme parks was causing serious water shortage in the neighbouring areas. The multinational beverage majors Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola alone were using around 6, 57,000 cubic feet of water annually. The Committee, headed by Benoy Viswom (CPI), pointed out that several drinking water supply schemes were remaining incomplete on account of the laxity on the part of the officialdom and departmental negligence. It took exception to the Government's failure to provide power to completed projects, thereby delaying their commissioning. The panel pointed out that 12 projects in six districts were waiting commissioning for want of power supply. It also wanted unification of the power tariff being levied on projects being implemented by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and those being executed by the Kerala Rural Water Supply Agency (KRWSA) with World Bank assistance. The KWA is being levied tariff at a higher rate, it added. The panel also sought urgent measures to check mining of river sand and to prevent unscientific construction of check-dams. Unless such measures are taken, it would become difficult to ensure sustained and even use of water by people in different parts of the State. The Government should chalk out rainwater harvesting projects in the coming years in such a way as to prevent wastage of run-off and proper utilisation, the report said. Pointing out that indiscriminate digging of borewells was causing serious damage to groundwater resources, the report asked the Government to bridle digging of borewells and go in for legislation that would prevent unauthorised digging of borewells.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
