In a bid to resolve the potable water problems of a few panchayats in Kothamangalam, the authorities are all set to conserve and protect the chiras (small water bodies) in the area.
The people of Nellikkuzhy and Pindimana among other panchayats who are suffering from acute water crisis suggested that the problem could be resolved to an extent through conserving the chira and the authorities took it up, said Nellikkuzhy panchayat president Abdul Karim.
The district panchayat has sanctioned Rs 15 lakh for conserving and building a protection wall for Chalu chira.
Many parts of the chira spanning 46 cents were encroached upon but the issue has been settled and the whole area has been handed over to the panchayat.
“We are also planning to conserve Kattachira, which is bigger covering around 1 acre, and other ‘chiras’ in the panchayat. Though it is used for potable water, a lot of maintenance work has to be done. We will be submitting a proposal for maintenance of all the chiras in the panchayat,” said Abdul.
Plans are afoot to conserve the chiras in Pindimana also. “We have submitted a proposal to clean the Irattapottachira which is filled with silt. It was encroached upon by people and of the 77 cents, 74 cents is now under the panchayat. Water dries up during summer, but once it is desilted and maintained the water from the nearby canal will flow into it,” said Pindimana panchayat vice-president K J Varghese.
He said the work of Myla chira is almost over and once the Anattupadam chira is also maintained water problems of the people in the area can be resolved.
“We have submitted a proposal for the maintenance work of Chalu chira at Nellikuzhy and Irattapottachira in Pindimana panchayats.
It can be used for drinking and agriculture purposes,” said district panchayat councillor Lissy Saju. She said that they are in the process of taking the estimate of the project.
The proposals for conservation work of the chiras have been placed in the draft plan and we have sanctioned `15 lakh and `9 lakh for the two projects, said district panchayat secretary Abdul Kalam Azad.