The state has the resources to achieve this objective
Planning board vice chairman K.M. Chandrasekhar and irrigation minister P.J. Joseph, during a national workshop on issues and challenges of drinking water management in Kerala. (Photo: DC)
Thiruvananthapuram: Water Resources Minister P. J. Joseph has said that the prime objective of the government was to ensure 24X7 water supply to the entire population.
Mr Joseph was inaugurating a national workshop on ‘Issues and challenges of drinking water management in Kerala’ organised by the State Planning Board in association with Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) at Mascot Hotel here on Thursday.
The state has the resources to achieve this objective. However, there was a need to scale up the efforts being undertaken in the sector to achieve that aim. This can be done by construction of check dams, water conservation, including renovation of ponds, and sanctioning of 93 water supply projects.
There were also plans to start water conservation schemes in 1200 schools, he said.
The minister also stressed the importance of measures for protection of usable water resources like wells.
Presenting the theme of the workshop, Dr Suresh Das, executive vice-president, KSCSTE, said that Kerala lagged behind water-scarce states like Rajasthan in many parameters related to availability and access to safe drinking water. Many of the issues in drinking water sector were man-made, he said.
Mr G. Vijayaraghavan, member, State Planning Board, Alok Sheel, addl chief secretary, Planning and Economic Affairs, and member secretary, State Planning Board, and Mr K.M. Chandrasekhar, vice-chairman, State Planning Board, also spoke at the seminar.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
