Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Demand for water protection ministry

TIRUCHI: Over 200 members representing different organisations from all over the State staged a demonstration in front of the Junction here on Tuesday evening to press their demands of creation of a separate Ministry of Water and Water Resources Protection to look into water related matters and implement in toto the Tamil Nadu Tanks Protection and Eviction of Encroachments Act 2007.

The agitation led by the State convener of Environmental Scientists Forum Santhanakumar, was organised by Tamil Nadu Environment Council (TNEC). State convener of TNEC L. Antonysamy, State convener of Environmental Advocates Forum Martin, State convener of the Water Resources Protection Campaign-Tamil Nadu Jeeva, advocate Kennedy and others spoke.

They said Tamil Nadu was well known for its long history of water harvesting through water bodies. Recent studies have revealed that about 20 to 30 per cent of the storage capacity of the tanks in the State has been lost.

Between 1975 and 1995, only 70 per cent of the tank feed areas received water from the tanks. This refers only to the system tanks. But 80 per cent of the tanks in the State are rainfed.

The State Government enacted the Tamil Nadu Tanks Protection and Eviction of Encroachments Act 2007, but it is not being implemented properly. The tank system in the State is in peril.

It is very important to save tanks for saving river systems and surface water potential. But urbanisation, industrialisation, untreated sewages, pesticides, poor or nil maintenance of links and storage areas, degradation of land, water trade and encroachments have killed the vibrant nature of the tank system.

The involvement of many agencies in the maintenance of tanks is the root cause of degeneration.

People’s role in the maintenance of tanks should be improved. All earlier rules, systems and procedures that keep people and farmers away from the tanks should be done away with.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme should be brought to the rescue of all tanks.

Industries that polluted water bodies should be closed down immediately and compensation be claimed from them for the reclamation.

The TNEC also demanded the government ban all mining activities in the hill areas and along foothill areas as they created water crisis due to deforestation.

The government should also enact a legislation to regularise the land use pattern banning the conversion of agricultural lands into industries which polluted the water sources.

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