THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The newly-launched Jala Mission under the Haritha Keralam Mission is engaged in efforts to cleanse and rejuvenate water bodies to tide over the water crisis arising out of shortage in rainfall and pollution of water bodies, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister was responding to a calling-attention motion by K Krishnankutty on the influence of the weak south-west monsoon on the agricultural sector and potable water availability in the state.
According to the Chief Minister, a total of 3,099 wells have been dug up and another 15,000 wells have been recharged. While 3,855 new ponds have been dug up, another 13,247 ponds have been rejuvenated. Around 2,467 km long drains and 1,481 km-long canals have been cleaned.
Awareness on water conservation is being created among the public by local bodies and people’s groups with the slogan ‘Water is Life’. Task forces have been created for well water recharging, digging up new wells and ponds and construction of weirs.
Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, around 3,215 works relating to water conservation have been taken up in Chittur, Malampuzha and Kasargod blocks which are facing acute water shortage.
The government plans to create 19.7 lakh man days through such activities by spending up to Rs 80.82 crore, the Chief Minister said. The government is closely monitoring the rainfall situation in the state, Pinarayi said and added the government will soon issue a detailed statement on the water availability situation under Rule 300 of the Assembly. Rule 300 relates to a statement made by a minister on a matter of public importance with the consent of the Speaker.