State starts preparing list of waterbodies

Thiruvananthapuram: On the basis of the instructions from the Union government, the state government has begun the task of identifying 75 waterbodies in each district that will be cleaned, desilted and restored to its original form.
A joint letter from the secretaries of the ministries of water resources, panchayati raj, environment, forests and climate change and the departments of drinking water and sanitation, rural development and land resources to the state chief secretaries, including Kerala, last month (accessed by TOI), had asked the states either to plan fresh waterbodies that have a minimum pondage area of one acre, or to restore existing ones to its original purity and form. The target has been given as 75 such waterbodies in each district. The Centre’s instruction comes as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations being undertaken to mark the 75th year of the country’s Independence.
The proposal includes removal of encroachments both within the waterbody as well as in the catchment and drainage, treatment of grey water flowing to it, plantation of trees such as Azadirachta indica, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis etc. However, it has been instructed that public funds should not be used for the beautification works. Instead, citizens and non-government bodies may contribute, if they want such work to be taken up, the letter said.
Every state has been asked to prepare a district-wise plan of action regarding the Amrit Sarovars that should be shared with the department of rural development as well as with the National Water Mission under the ministry of Jal Shakti. The action plan should include GPS coordinates of the selected sites as well as the time required to complete the activity. While finalizing the sites, the districts have been asked to focus on water stressed blocks, especially with reference to drinking water.
The instructions said that if feasible, Amrit Sarovar sites are located such that they lie partly or fully in the forest areas, the forest agencies should take them up or consent should be provided to another agency which is being entrusted with the work. Every Amrit Sarovar worksite will have a common signage of a standard size and logo.
Each of the districts should separately document the entire initiative recording various vignettes of development of Amrit Sarovar, unique features of mobilisation of the community, donations provided by the citizens etc. The resources for this initiative will be provided from MGNREGS, 15th finance commission grants, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojaya or similar schemes of the state or the Centre. Public donations and crowdfunding will also be accepted for the task.
The whole task has been asked to be completed before August 15 this year.