THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the state recording a 27 per cent deficiency in the southwest monsoon rainfall, the government has decided to form three task forces for undertaking rainwater harvesting on a war-footing, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday. The first task force will implement rainwater harvesting programmes on the lines of the ‘Mazhappolima’ scheme successfully implemented in Thrissur using the MGNREGS. The second task force will undertake urgent repairs on check dams and regulators, while the third will be entrusted with the job of cleaning canals and ponds across the state, Vijayan said.
The task forces have been instructed to chalk out their action plan at the earliest, he said.
The IMD has informed the state government the state has received 27 per cent less rainfall from the normal up to August 7, the Chief Minister said. In Idukki, where major power projects are situated, the monsoon rainfall has been deficient by 36 per cent, while 58 per cent shortfall has been reported in Wayanad. The Idukki reservoir is only 32 per cent full. A crisis can be averted if the state receives copious rainfall in August and September, he said.
SAVing water for future
Rainwater harvesting is a means of collection and storage of rainwater into natural reservoirs or tanks. The first task force will implement rainwater harvesting programmes on the lines of the ‘Mazhappolima’ scheme implemented in Thrissur