Extend Emerald scheme to halt water trade: activist

Ooty: Mr. B.K. Kumaran, president of the Nilgiris Ecology and Animals Protection Samithi, urged the district administration to take steps to extend the ongoing Emerald water supply scheme, meant for Coonoor, from Lovedale to Thalaiyattimund area in Ooty to supply this water exclusively to hotels, lodges and restaurants in Ooty for a nominal rate.   

This would help to reduce hoteliers dependence on private water traders in the hills, he said.

That in turn will check the groundwater exploitation by the private traders thus leading to water conservation.

“It is a known fact that those who have indulged in water trade in Nilgiris are misusing the license given for water extraction for irrigation, for commercial exploitation,” henoted, and added, “So, there is a need to halt the ongoing water trade in the hills to ensure that water in the reservoirs are properly used to curb commercial exploitation of ground water in the hills.”