The Hindu : Front Page : Steps taken to combat drought

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Tuesday, Jan 09, 2007
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Steps taken to combat drought

Special Correspondent

Minister says British scientists have predicted severe drought this year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A meeting of higher officials, chaired by Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran here on Monday, decided to take immediate steps to combat the impending drought in the State.

The Minister told mediapersons after the meeting that a severe drought was likely this year according indications from the scientific community. Britain's Meteorological Office predicted that 2007 would be the warmest year on record.

Mr. Premachandran said that immediate measures would be taken to conserve and improve the availability of water. Of the 94 ongoing projects under the Kerala Water Authority, eight major projects and 19 minor schemes would be commissioned within days. This would benefit 2.47 lakh people. Of the remaining schemes, 29 would be completed by March 31. Besides, the Jalanidhi and the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission would be completing 525 and 80 small schemes respectively.

He said the authorities would be taking stringent measures, including disconnection of supply, to prevent unauthorised use of drinking water. Steps were being taken to repair defunct borewells, tubewells and hand pumps.

Panels recast

The Government, he said, had reconstituted advisory committees at the constituency level. These would have officials and people's representatives as members. They would meet once in a month to discuss measures to address water shortage. The Water Resources Department would prepare a calendar for efficient use of water from irrigation projects.

The Minister said that Tamil Nadu had stopped release of water from Tamil Nadu Sholayar to Kerala Sholayar against the provisions of the Parambikulam-Aliyar agreement. The matter had been taken up with Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu was required to maintain a water level of not less than 2,658 ft in the reservoir. However, the water level had gone below that. On February 1, it was to maintain a level of 2,663 ft as per the agreement.

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