THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Kattakada assembly constituency, which is gifted with two major rivers and many water bodies, has an important place in the water governance in the district. On World Water Day representatives from 122 wards in the constituency led by MLA I B Satheesh drew up an action plan to make the constituency water surplus. Jala Smrudhi project was inaugurated by Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on the banks of Karamana river at Kundamonkadavu. The constituency is spread over 113.8 square kilo metres.
It took eight months to prepare the ground work of the action plan. A survey of the water bodies and their present condition was conducted with popular participation. Land Use Board digitised the land records and aligned it with satellite images. Surface and under water sources will be replenished based on the data.
The action plan involves a 15 step strategy which includes recharging of wells, checking water quality, rain water harvesting, planting saplings, using geo textiles for water body conservation etc. Ponds in six gram panchayats will be selected as model water bodies. 11 ponds will be utilised for fish farming. Their banks will be preserved with geo textiles, saplings etc. School children will be encouraged to take up water conservation, organic farming, waste processing, rain water harvesting, soil conservation etc.
Water clubs will be formed at select schools. MGNREGA project will be used for water conservation works. Sacred groves will be conserved using nature clubs in schools.