The state should come forward to form a lake conservation authority as in the case of many other states in the country and make best use of the enormous Central funds available for taking up various schemes to protect the state’s fragile eco system,said Minister of State for Labour Kodikunnil Suresh here on Saturday.
He added that at present, there is a lack of coordination between the Water Resources, Environment and Revenue Departments to address the grave issue of protection of lakes in the state, as is evident in the case of Sasthamkotta, Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes.
Addressing a news conference here on Saturday to highlight the issues related to the Sasthamkotta lake amid a people’s agitation gaining momentum,he said that a steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary for wetland conservation came into existence in the state only the other day,though the Centre was sending reminders on this score and go in for a Management Action Plan (MAP) for lakes,while almost all other states had initiated it.
He said that the main issue related to the Sasthamkotta lake,which is one of the rare fresh water lakes in the world itself,is related to the unchecked drawing of water to quench the needs of Kollam Corporation with 37 million litres per day and also of the Chavara and Panmana grama panchayaths with 12 million litres a day.
“Both the schemes were drawn up and implemented during the tenure of the LDF Government,without any proper studies or afterthought whether the Sasthamkotta lake has a feed source to provide it on a long-term basis. The result was depleting water levels even during the rainy season,” he pointed out.
“The only way out to prevent the degradation of the Sasthamkotta lake in the present scenario is to put a stop to the drawing of water. Water from the Pallickal river can be diverted to Chavara-Panmana grama panchayats and from Kallada river to Kollam Corporation,” the Minister said.
Kodikunnil Suresh said that the Chief Minister had convened a high level meet on the Sasthamkotta lake issue on May 8 ,in which, Union Environment (lake conservation) Joint Secretary R K Singh and scientific officer Chandan Singh would also attend.
“The meet will discuss alternative proposals and thereby end the pumping from Sasthamkotta lake. A proposal to bar mining in the Padinjare Kallada and Sasthamkotta grama panchayats is also there. The Centre is ready to provide substantial funds for protection of lakes ,based on the MAP submitted by the state,” the Minister said.
The Minister urged the action committee leading the strike on Sasthamkotta lake to withdraw it,considering the Chief Minister’s direct intervention. To a query,the Minister ridiculed the indefinite fast begun by MLA Kovoor Kunjumon, demanding action to save the Sasthamkotta lake.
“There is a general feeling that the MLA,representing the Kunnathoor constituency for 13 years, had done nothing to prevent the deterioration of the lake. He didn’t murmur a word when a scheme to supply water to the Panmana-Chavara panchayats coming under Chavara Assembly segment,then represented by his colleague and former Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran,was drawn up,” he said.
“I understand that the MLA had appealed to the Chief Minister to give him a couple of days to remain on fast to counter the ill-will of the people. Hence the delay in convening the Chief Minister’s meet,” he said.
