CM issues directive to officials ahead of possible water crisis ahead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to prevent a possible water shortage in the state, the government has begun taking a series of measures, including putting in place more effective ways of distribution.
Based on a directive from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to district collectors, the focus will be on GPS-fitted water tankers and setting up of water kiosks.


The government has also issued a directive to local selfgovernment (LSG) bodies to utilise the funds allotted to them to take measures to prevent a water crisis from hitting the state.

Accordingly, all panchayats, municipalities and corporations have been advised to make use of Rs 5.5 lakh, Rs 11 lakh and Rs 16.5 lakh each, respectively, till March-end.

Going ahead, from April 1 to May 31, Rs 11 lakh, Rs 15.5 lakh and Rs 22 lakh can be utilized by each of the panchayats, municipalities and corporations, respectively.

Water kiosks will be set up in regions which reported water crisis in previous years. Likewise, the GPS-based monitoring system of tankers will be put in place in all districts known for water shortage.

Local self-government officials have been asked to keep an eye on and track the system to ensure transparency in distribution of water and release of funds. The LSG heads would have to submit their reports in every two weeks to the district collector.

Based on a report from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) during last year’s northeast monsoon, seven districts in the state that received deficient rains are: Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad. These districts are expected to face a bigger water crisis in the coming months, said officials of the Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).

School textbooks to have content on water security measures: Lessons to sensitise students about the importance of water security would be included in school textbooks, education minister C Raveendranath told the assembly here on Thursday. The minister said the textbooks prescribed for Classes I to XII were undergoing content quality auditing.