Malappuram to utilise quarry reservoirs

MALAPPURAM: The district administration is exploring untapped reservoirs in the quarries, under consideration for the past three years, to beat severe drought and acute shortage of potable water. The project would soon start at three large quarries with the help of Kozhikode-based Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), district collector Amit Meena said. The District Disaster Management Authority has already approved the project. The CWRDM had earlier completed a detailed study on using the water from quarry reservoirs.

Decontaminating and filtering facilities developed by the CWRDM would be set up adjacent to the quarries. The quality of the water to be supplied will also be monitored by the Centre while the Water Authority will manage the project. The CWRDM report says it will come around Rs 4.5 lakh to set up the filtering unit at a quarry. The district administration plans to set up the unit at two quarries this summer. One more would also be set up after reviewing their success.

P.V. Abdul Wahab M.P. has offered to finance the project from his Local Area Development Fund. Quarries with usable and less used reservoirs would be selected for the project. Several quarries in the district have large pools which formed naturally and remain unused even during the severe drought. They will be finalised only after the inspection of concerned local bodies, revenue department and Water Authority. The district administration would also rope in residents to protect the water bodies from contamination, the collector said.