Kochi: Water woes fail to make it to poll campaign agenda

Kochi: Even as World Water Day is observed on Friday which highlights issues of thousands of people living without safe drinking water, such green topics are not an integral part of the election discourse. When the election campaign picked up, none of the candidates or parties is discussing such issues which are directly affecting people’s day to day life, decry green activists.

“No political parties, candidates or the government are discussing people’s basic issues like impacts of climate change, water scarcity, pollution of water sources, deforestation, wetland reclamation, quarrying and demolition of hillocks. Even after facing the century’s worst floods in August, the political leadership is yet to recognise the importance of bringing a change in their development strategies and making such topics an important political agenda,” said Purushan Eloor of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.

 “Many of the areas across the state which remained under 5 to 10 feet water for days in August are now reeling under acute water scarcity. The state is facing impacts of extreme climate change, and the government has announced ‘rebuild Kerala’ initiative which advocated the use of construction in tune with nature. But, still, the practice of land abuse, shoddy construction and faulty building plan are followed. Despite being the first general election held after the disastrous August floods, such important topics are missing in the campaign discourse of all political parties.”

 In Ernakulam, where the toxic industrial hotspot of Eloor - Edayar stretch is situated, the unrestrained pollution of River Periyar, the district’s major water source, is not being discussed by any candidate.

  According to Dr C. M Joy, voters question political parties on environment conservation. “We should realise that there is no life if there is no water. Hence we have to get assurance from candidates that they will work for water conservation,” he said.