KOCHI: A panchayat has prepared a dependable, realistic and systematic water management plan which can be replicated by other civic bodies. The plan developed for the first time in the state by the Meloor panchayat in Thrissur district with the support of SCMS Water Institute, Karukutty, assumes significance in the current water scarcity situation. The panchayat will submit a report to the state government as well as the Kerala State Planning Board. The panchayat authorities will also conduct a workshop to disseminate the data to the people in the village and use the document as the basis for developing water- related development projects for the panchayat from the 2018- 19 budget onwards.
The SCMS students, who conducted a survey, took water samples from all the 17 wards and analysed its quality standards. They also quantified the different water sources and the actual demand for drinking water and irrigation. The major sources of water in the panchayat are wells followed by canal and lift irrigation, public pond, river, Kerala Water Authority, tanker lorries and bottled water. The study quantified the rainwater availability in the area and proposed measures to harvest it. The major recommendations for water security are restoration of water bodies, exploitation of canal diversion scheme for river water harvesting, sanitation of wells, rain water harvesting through well recharge and watershed practices, routine water quality analysis, restrictions on bore wells, participatory water use audits, encouraging KWA connections, restriction on water intensive crops and formation of water brigade.
"All the recommendations can be effectively implemented in any local body in Kerala. Meloor, surrounded by Chalakudy river and once a water surplus area, has suddenly become water-scarce. Drinking water has not been a big issue but there is severe water scarcity for irrigation. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people and unavailability of water for irrigation has serious impact. Meloor can be a warning signal for other panchayats on how a water-rich area can suddenly become parched," said Sunny George, director of SCMS Water Institute.
