The Hindu                  23.04.2013

Intensive drive to solve drinking water shortage

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that a year-long
programme will be implemented to increase water availability and ensure
the quality of water.

Top priority

Addressing
a meeting at the district collectorate here on Monday to review the
drought relief measures being undertaken by the district administration,
Mr. Chandy said that projects like construction of check dams and rain
water harvesting units and purification of water in ponds and stone
quarries will be given priority by the State government.

Instructions
had been given to convene Assembly constituency-level meetings from
Wednesday to resolve drinking water shortage. Senior officials
authorised by the district collector should attend such meetings.

The
Kerala State Electricity Board had been asked to draw dedicated lines
to ensure pumping from sources with ready availability of water.
Disconnection of power connection to any drinking water project on
account of pending dues should be restored on Tuesday, Mr. Chandy said.

Stringent action

Steps
will be taken to replace faulty motors in minor irrigation projects.
Two squads centred in Ernakulam and Muvattupuzha will be deployed to
check water theft and stringent action will be taken against the guilty.

Administrative
sanction had been given to 547 emergency projects worth Rs. 12.38 crore
in the district. Of this, 80 per cent will be completed at the
earliest. These projects are expected to resolve the drinking water
shortage in the district to a great extent.

Mr.
Chandy directed convening of a meeting of MLAs and Kerala Water
Authority officials to resolve the issues related to drinking water
projects in Mulavoor, Asamannoor, and Prayipra regions.

The
Chief Minister asked the KWA to ensure supply of more water in
Kannamaly regions on alternate days. The arrangement will continue till
the completion of the JNNURM project. Water brought in tankers will be
distributed through pipelines. The entire cost of this arrangement will
be borne by the State government. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited
the water-starved areas of Kannamaly.

Revenue
Minister Adoor Prakash said that shortcomings in the implementation of
drought relief projects will be addressed immediately.

Water
Resources Minister P.J. Joseph said that availability of funds was not
an issue for the implementation of projects. The State government had
decided to pay Rs. 50,000 in advance to grama panchayats. The rest of
the funds would be given as soon as the allocation is used up. The
minister also asked department officials to ensure the cleanliness of
water sources.

Call for funds

Benny
Behanan, MLA, demanded more funds for drought relief works in the
district and its utilization should be under the supervision of the
Sub-Collector. Dominic Presentation, MLA, said that allocation of Rs. 38
crore under JNNURM will help resolve the water scarcity in western
Kochi regions.

S. Sarma, MLA, called for immediate
completion of the pipe network connecting the pumping line in Paravur
with various areas in Vypeen.

V.D. Satheeshan, MLA, called for the efficient utilisation of funds allocated for drought relief works.