Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Call to check degradation of water sources

Staff Reporter

Environmental Resource Centre inaugurated

FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: Member of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination R.V. Pillai inaugurating an Environmental Resource Centre at Puvathoor , near Aranmula, on Saturday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Member of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination R.V. Pillai has stressed the need to check degradation of water sources, especially river systems like Pampa, at a time when drinking water crisis is fast becoming a major problem the world over.

Mr. Pillai, who was also the Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission, inaugurated the Environmental Resource Centre set up by the Pampa Parirakshana Samithi at Puvathoor near Aranmula on Saturday.

The centre was set up by the samithi as part of the Endogenous Tourism Project, jointly sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Union Government in Aranmula along with 30 other places in the country.

Mr. Pillai said scarcity of water and pollution of water sources were two major problems faced by almost all the countries in the world. The increasing instances of water disputes between various States in India were a pointer to the crisis at the national level, he said.

Experts pointed out the possibility of yet another `world war' over international water disputes in the 21st century, he said.

Mr. Pillai said that scientists opined that the glacier-fed river Ganges too would become water-scarce, once the melting of the glacier was completed in the next 90 years or so. He said indiscriminate sand collection from river Pampa led to degradation of the river system. Water was the basic life source and environmental organisations should play a key role in spreading public awareness on environment conservation and river protection, he said.

Presiding over the function, K.C. Rajagopal, MLA, called upon the general public to take the initiative to check illegal river sand-mining.

District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh said reviving intimate relationship between man and rivers was a must for effective protection of river systems and conservation of environment.

Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam executive director P.N. Suresh; the former Planning Board member Peelipose Thomas; PPS general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair; D. Padmalal, Bijoy Nandan, K.G. Padmakumar, C.M. Joy, all scientists; and DTPC secretary P. Santhoshkumar spoke.

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