The Hindu 23.11.2009
Rs.10-crore project to recharge groundwater
Staff Reporter
| To address water crisis in coastal panchayats of Kodungalloor |
Thrissur: The Central Groundwater Board has approved a Rs.10-crore project, proposed by the district administration, to recharge the groundwater in Kodungalloor block.
V. Kunjambu, a scientist at Central Ground Water Board, said that the board had approved the project in the wake of success of Mazhapolima, a community-driven open well recharging programme using rainwater, envisaged by the district administration in addressing the water crisis in the coastal panchayats of Kodungalloor.
The project would begin within two weeks, he said. Initially, about 2,000 houses in three coastal panchayats (Methala, Eriad and Edavilangu) and municipal areas of Kodungalloor, where over exploitation of groundwater was rampant, would get the benefit.
Water shortage
The project would utilise the rainwater falling on rooftops of houses to recharge open wells and other water sources to improve fresh water availability in the area. Loss of natural water recharge mechanisms, unscientific construction of roads and buildings and loss of traditional practices of bund construction at canal mouth to prevent saline water intrusion were considered as the major reasons for the water crisis in coastal areas.
Experts pointed out that injection of rainwater into wells in an area with a high water table with serious salinity intrusion would create a fresh water zone and resist the intrusion of saline water from the sea.
District Collector V.K. Baby said that ward-level consumer committees would be formed to ensure effective implementation of the project. A district-level committee, led by the Collector, would coordinate the project works.
Ten observation wells would be selected from different areas to test the quality of the water periodically. Ponds, canals and other water sources of the area would be renovated under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Around 2,000 open wells had already been recharged in Methala, Eriad and Edavilangu panchayats under the Mazhapolima project, the Collector noted.
