Urban News

The Hindu 11.12.2009

Multi-disciplinary approach needed to manage water

Special Correspondent

Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy

The secretary, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, R. Vijayakumar, inaugurates a seminar on Water Management in Udhagamandalam on Thursday. –

Udhagamandalam: A two-day workshop on ‘Emerging Issues in Water Management for Sustainable Agriculture in South Asia Region,’ organised jointly by the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI) and the Michigan State University, the U.S., got underway here on Thursday.

Inaugurating the workshop, the secretary, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, R. Vijayakumar, stressed the need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach in water management.

Lamenting that decision making tended to be fragmented, he said that various disciplines should be brought together. Strategies based on good data should be worked out. In the context of climate change, people should anticipate and adapt, he said and added that research and action plans should go hand in hand.

Referring to the recent floods and landslips that occurred here, he said that there should be a proper balance between water retention and run-off. Stating that in Tamil Nadu micro-irrigation was being systematically promoted, Mr. Vijayakumar said that efforts were also on to promote precision agriculture.

The Director, Institute of Water Research, Michigan State University, the U.S., Jon Bartholic, said that while population was increasing the water resources were limited.

Hence ways to ensure better use of water should be evolved.

The Director, International Water Management Institute-TATA Policy Research Programme, Hyderabad, K. Palanisami, said that ground water was over exploited in Punjab and southern parts of India.

Due to climate change the water requirement of crops like maize, groundnut and cotton will go up in course of time. Stating that the benefits of all research should reach the common man, he said that technology transfer should be farmer-friendly and participatory.

Challenges should be converted into opportunities. Rain water harvesting should be encouraged.

The Director, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun, V.N. Sharda, who presided over the function said that water was rapidly becoming a scarce commodity and referred to the apprehension that water shortage will trigger the next World War.

Global level

Water management should be discussed at the globa level. He pointed out that agriculture was taking the lion’s share of the available water and emphasised the need to bring into being better application methods.

The Principal Scientist and Head, CSWCRTI, O.P.S. Khola, welcomed the gathering.

Professor, Michigan State University, Karim M.Maredia, spoke.

The Coordinator of the workshop, D.V. Singh, proposed a vote of thanks.

The Hindu 11.12.2009

Works to improve infrastructure in Coimbatore will begin soon: Stalin

Staff Reporter

Coimbatore: Various departments and local bodies in and around Coimbatore have drawn up proposals and estimates to the tune of Rs 300 crore for improving infrastructure here and the works would begin soon, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Thursday.

He was here to plan and review the arrangements for the World Classical Tamil conference to be held in June next. He was accompanied by Special Officer for the Conference K. Allaudin.

Mr.Stalin said that proposals for improving the infrastructure had come even from Municipalities, Town Panchayats and Panchayats.

Earlier, he visited VOC Park to assess whether the procession could start from there and en route he inspected sites for putting up stages for the Chief Minister and delegates to watch the procession. Various events of the conference would take place in 20 halls of the Coimbatore District Small Scale Industries Association (CODISSIA) Trade Fair Complex. Mr. Stalin went around this complex also.

Later, he visited the Coimbatore Central Prison area as the Government has decided to shift the prison to a place outside the city and set up a botanical garden to commemorate the conference.

Mr. Stalin told reporters that of the 165 acres within the prison premises, 93 acres was lying unutilised. That area would be used for setting up the botanical garden in the first phase and the rest of the works would be taken up after shifting the prison. It would be made the first of its kind botanical garden in the State with access points from Dr.Nanjappa Road, Bharathiar Road, Balasundaram Road and ATT Colony. For locating the prison outside the city, three places had been identified and were under consideration of the government. Of the land available with the Central prison, a few acres would be set aside for expanding, improving and modernising the bus stand at Gandhipuram. During the Tamil conference, there would be enhanced attention on controlling and preventing A (H1N1) influenza, he said responding to a query. Equipment were on the way for setting up an A (H1N1) testing laboratory at the Microbiology Department of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.