Heading on a ‘Haritha Kerala Mission’, state aims to clear up blocked water bodies and save dying rivers

NewsBharati    20-Feb-2018
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Thiruvananthapuram, February 20: With an aim to conserve dying water bodies, Kerala is on its mission “Haritha Kerala” which incorporates waste management, organic farming and water resources rejuvenation in the state.The project primarily aims to clear up blocked rivers, canals, rivulets and local ponds in several districts to allow the free flow of water.

 
 
Following the successful rejuvenation model used for the Varattar River in the Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, the mission will support the undertaking of similar river revival projects in other wards.

“We work to provide training and technical support to the gram, block and district panchayats, who undertake the revival projects. We will also integrate the different departments that will have to work together on a project. For instance, sometimes the irrigation department will have to join hands with the panchayats for those rivers that flow through fallow fields,” said TN Seema, Executive Vice-Chairperson of the Haritha Kerala Mission.

Explaining how the revival process will work, Seema said, “All water bodies will be selected, including dried up wells and temple ponds. Apart from de-weeding and cleaning up the beds, we will also try to increase the depth of the water bodies. This will boost the flow of the river, which will then fill dried-up channels nearby,” she said.

“Public participation is the key to successfully undertaking other rejuvenation projects under the mission, especially for campaigning and mobilization. We will be the facilitating platform for the people and the departments to work together,” said Seema.

The initial plans for Kannur’s Kanampuzha and the integration of the Pallikalar, Kolarayar and Meenachilar rivulets running through the Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts have been fixed.