Kerala - Kozhikode   

Civic body initiative to save water for summer months

Staff Reporter

Bid to make Koyilandy water-plenty municipality

Kozhikode: The Koyilandy municipality has launched a multi-pronged programme for conserving water with a view to combating water crunch in summer months.

Rainwater harvesting, identification of water-starved areas, especially in the coastal belt, creation of a green belt and planting of endemic plant species that help conserve water are some of the major steps being initiated in this direction.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Wednesday, municipal chairperson K. Dasan said the campaign, Jalasamridhiyulla nagaram, was envisaged to make Koyilandy a `water plentiful municipality.'

"In view of a severe drinking water scarcity forecasted in the rural areas of Kozhikode district, the municipality has drawn up a massive project for conserving rainwater, besides rejuvenating tanks in the municipal limits side by side with a tree-planting drive to create a green belt," Mr. Dasan said.

The municipality has submitted a Rs.3-crore proposal for a mega project to the Minor Irrigation Department for building a regulator-cum-bridge at Chitarikadavupuzha.

Rainwater harvesting

The rainwater harvesting programme of the civic body envisages collection of rainwater in underground tanks and supplying it after storing in ten huge ferro tanks sponsored by nationalised banks. The stored water will be supplied through a pipeline during summer. Filtering of rainwater will be carried out under the project.

The municipality had de-silted six tanks under private ownership before the monsoon.

"As many as 500 people participated in the drive to desilt the Puliyancheri tank... . The Panthalayini Thevar pond too will be cleaned soon."

A survey is on in the coastal belt to identify areas worst hit by saline water influx and to ensure adequate provision of drinking water for the residents there, Mr. Dasan said

The Jaivaveli programme taken up by the municipality has envisaged the planting of water-friendly and endemic plant species such as `chembarathi,' `velli ela,' `sheema konna' and `ramacham.'

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom had inaugurated a green belt project involving the planting of 10,000 saplings at the Koyilandy bus stand a couple of months ago.

Construction of bunds to prevent runaway of rainwater, planting of species such as bamboo and mangroves in the coastal areas, and digging of one lakh rainwater pits are some of the measures being initiated.

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