The Hindu - Karnataka 20.08.2009
Water research institute planned
Special Correspondent
| Integrated resource management sought |
— Photo: S. Mahinsha 
Traditional start: Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran inaugurating the Kerala Environment Congress 2009 in the city on Wednesday.
Thiruvananthapuram: The State government is planning to set up a Water Research Institute, Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Kerala Environment Congress 2009 organised by the Centre for Environment and Development here on Wednesday.
The proposed institute would offer courses in water resource management and provide facilities for research. He said it would supplement the activities of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) in Kozhikode.
Mr. Premachandran said the upstream diversion of water from the Mullaperiyar and the Pampa-Achenkovil rivers could have disastrous consequences for the State. It could affect the very survival of wetlands like Kuttanad and lead to the shrinking of water resources, he observed.
The government was planning to enforce the conservation of paddy fields and wetlands Act 2008, he said. “The decline of farming is responsible for the crisis in water resource management faced by the State,” he noted. Citing a recent UN report, he said Asian countries including India were moving towards a crisis in water resources and farming that could adversely impact food security.
“Policy-makers have a key role in creating awareness about such issues. The political leadership should recognise the importance of environmental protection, water resource management and sustainable development and bring these subjects into their agenda,” he said.
Mr. Premachandran called for an integrated approach to water resource management based on public-private partnership for implementation of projects.
He stressed the importance of micro-level projects like check-dams, rainwater harvesting and protection of water bodies in ensuring water security.
Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash presided over the meeting. CED Executive Director Babu Ambatt, CWRDM former director E.J. James and Information Kerala Mission Director M.K. Prasad were present.