Dutch experts collaborating with the State government on a joint action plan for the Kuttanad basin has recommended, among other things, the establishment of a river basin authority for sustainable management of water resources.
Apart from strong State-level management, the authority should have units for managing ‘clusters’ of rivers and basin management committees for individual rivers, Simon Warmerdam, who headed the disaster risk reduction team from the Netherlands, says.
World Water Day
Mr. Warmerdam outlined the findings of his team while addressing the World Water Day celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
Until the authority is formed, as a temporary measure, a cell established within the Water Resources Department can tackle related issues, the team has suggested.
Erosion hotspots along the coast, according to the experts, can be eliminated by a ban on beach sand mining, redesign of existing inadequate structures and sand nourishment.
With regard to the Thottapally spillway, the team has suggested that the carrying capacity of the leading channel be increased.
Additionally, the fisheries harbour which sits to the north of the spillway mouth should be relocated further south. The harbour contributes to outlet sedimentation and prevents sand flow to the north, Mr. Warmerdam said.
The team visited the Kuttanad region after the mid-August 2018 floods. Subsequently, the Dutch experts held consultations with top officers of the Water Resources and Irrigation Departments.
The Dutch experts have also stressed the importance of adequate data management and decision support systems in sustainable water resource management.