Business line 21.03.2013
Rainwater harvesting likely to be mandatory for new structures in Kerala
The State Government has given an in-principle nod to a proposal
requiring all new buildings and houses to mandatorily feature provisions
for rainwater harvesting.
Briefing newspersons here after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen
Chandy said this would form part of efforts to conserve water resources
in an increasingly drought-prone State.
PANEL APPOINTED
A Cabinet subcommittee comprising P.J. Joseph, minister for water
resources; M.K. Muneer, minister for panchayats and social welfare; and
Manjalamkuzhi Ali, minister for urban affairs will frame required rules.
The stipulation with respect to rainwater harvesting will be enforced subsequently, the Chief Minister said.
The State has been declared drought-hit after successive failures of the
monsoons during last year. It is looking to the pattern of summer rains
for badly needed signs of meaningful relief.
Seasonal forecasts by some models have been indicating that summer rains
could be normal to even slightly above normal during the current
season.
RAIN DISTRIBUTION
But the crucial issue is how the seasonal thundershowers get
distributed. India Meteorological Department (IMD) statistics show that
the State is recording normal to excess rainfall concurrently.
This trend was noticed from January to March this year, and has
continued until through the first 20 days of March, the IMD statistics
revealed.
But the thundershowers are not proving enough to make any material
difference to the groundwater situation. For this to happen, rains
should sustain for a day or two together, experts say. But this is not
usually the pattern associated with summer showers.
RESERVOIR SITUATION
Major reservoirs are precariously close to running dry for most
practical purposes. This has meant that hydel generation too has taken a
hit, necessitating cyclical load-shedding in the morning and evening.
The load-shedding schedule has been lifted for a limited period to
prevent hardships for students who are writing 10{+t}{+h} class
examinations.
Peaking summer and sultry weather have seen power consumption too going
up in tandem to a cumulative level of 60 million units recorded during
the past two days.
STUDENTS STIPEND
In other decisions, retirement age of doctors under the Employees State
Insurance scheme has been increased by two years, the Chief Minister
said.
Stipend for medical postgraduate students has been raised 39 per cent.
Postgraduate students-junior residents would get Rs 31,000 in the first
year; Rs 33,000 in the second; and Rs 34,000 in the third year. Super
specialty students-senior residents would get Rs 35,000; Rs 36,000; and
Rs 37,000 respectively.
Postgraduate students-senior residents PG bonded would get Rs 38,000 and
senior residents-super specialty bonded Rs 39,000. Stipend of dental
postgraduate students would be hiked soon, Chandy said.