KOZHIKODE: The governing body of the Forestry Board has made a fervent plea to revive the traditional sources of water such as fresh water lakes, wells and ponds in the State.

The meeting held on the occasion of World Water Day noted that unless such measures were initiated on a war footing, the State would have to combat a grim scenario of acute shortage of drinking water.

The meeting took note of the likely drinking water crisis on the occasion of the World Water Day on Thursday.

M. Rajan, Forestry Board chairman, presided.

There was an urgent need to stall the receding level of ground water. For this de-silting of the traditional ponds (`kulam'), wells, and other fresh water bodies had to be undertaken to avert a crisis.

The step was necessitated in the backdrop of reports that three to five per cent of the traditional water sources were disappearing in the State every year.

The primary reason was the razing of hills and reclamation of paddy fields. The groundwater level was receding alarmingly in 20 per cent of the total area in the State, it was pointed out.

The board suggested the setting up of a river delta conservation authority to could coordinate the activities of various departments.

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