Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Generate scientific data: Minister

For scientific management: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran inaugurating the sixth R&D session of the Indian National Committee on Hydrology in the city on Wednesday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran said here on Wednesday that the lack of scientific data on water resources was posing a problem in formulating projects utilising surface water and groundwater resources.

Delivering the inaugural address at the sixth R&D session of the Indian National Committee on Hydrology (INCOH), he called for detailed studies on the impact of climate change on water resources in Kerala.

“The poor monsoon showers in recent times reflect this trend. Urbanisation and industrialisation have played havoc with the hydrological cycle in Kerala, leading to reduced availability and poor quality of water.”

He stressed the need to generate hydrological data on water resources and share it with the stakeholders.

Mr. Premachandran said scientific management of water resources held the key to sustainable utilisation.

“Poor maintenance of irrigation systems and loss of water, inadequate drainage facilities, improper water management and poor involvement of farmers are matters of concern in India,” he said. The Minister said the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) concept in Kerala was designed to ensure a prominent role for farmers. “The government is preparing to enact legislation on PIM. A proper water resource management will have to factor the environmental and social concerns,”

Chairman of the Central Water Commission A.K. Bajaj presided over the meeting. Chief Engineer, Water Resources, P. Lathika; Director, National Institute of Hydrology R.D. Singh, and member secretary, INCOH, Rakesh Kumar, were present.

The three-day session includes presentations by experts on various R&D schemes.

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