Kerala   

Managing a source of life

E.J. James

E.J. James , water management expert, speaks to R. Madhavan Nair on the need for a comprehensive water management policy in the State

“Sanitise our open wells; protect catchment area of rivers; establish an agency for management of wetlands; evolve a water policy for the State and implement it on time-bound basis. These measures have to be given top priority by our State for proper management of our water resources,” says E.J. James, water management expert who retired recently as Executive Director at the Centre for Water Resources and Development (CWRDM) in Kozhikode after a long innings as a scientist.

Dr. James believes that measures to protect quality of water should get priority in water management strategies of our State because of the grave threat to public health from water-borne diseases.

His studies had shown that though the quality of water in the upper reaches of our rivers was good, it declined when the rivers flowed through thickly populated midland and lower-land belts. But, it was true that pollution from chemicals was comparatively less except in the lower reaches of a few rivers like Periyar, points out Dr. James.

Dr. James also quoted from studies carried out by CWRDM, that the major water-quality problem faced by open wells in Kerala was caused by bacteria. This was mainly on account of proximity of open wells to latrines.

Studies have shown that more than 80 per cent of open wells were subject to bacterial contamination and this was more during the monsoon season and in water-logged places.

There have also been studies that indicated pollution from flourides in water in Alappuzha and in some pockets of Palakkad.

Management of wetlands was another area that, Dr. James feels, needs top priority There has to be a common agency to coordinate action plans for management of Ashtamudi, Sasthamkotta and Kottuli (in Kozhikode) wetlands, he said.

Looking back at his days at the helm of CWRDM, Dr. James believed the centre had been able to make substantial contributions in the form of research inputs to mitigate water-related problems.

Established in 1978 at the initiative of former Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon, CWRDM’s aim was to emerge as a Centre of Excellence that would lead research in scientific water management practices.

Through scientific investigations on hydrology and water management practices, CWRDM had compiled a data bank containing hydrologic and related information for river basins in the State. The data were used to assess water requirements for drinking, irrigation and industrial use.

CWRDM also gave valuable inputs for State government on inter-State water disputes pertaining to Cauvery, Pamba-Achankovil-Vaipad, and Mullaperiyar.

“So far, CWRDM has moved along the track that was set for it at the time it was established by the State government as an autonomous institute in 1978. If there is no serious interference from outside agencies, CWRDM would be able to continue to pursue its mission which is to enhance the quality of life by ensuring water security for all by providing necessary research and development inputs,” Dr. James says.

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