Focus on protecting rivers in new water policy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Kerala heading for a severe water crisis due to the failure of the South West monsoon, the LDF government on Monday said the state would enter into inter-state water sharing agreements only after obtaining state assembly's approval.

The draft water policy for the state, presented by water resources Minister N K Preamchandran in the assembly today, focused on the need for scientific management of water resources.

Apparently alluding to inter-state water issues, including Mullaperiyar and Parambikulam Aliyar with Tamil Nadu, the policy said the activities of the Dam Safety Authority would be strengthened.

The popular notion that Kerala was a water surplus state needs to be corrected in view of population increase, climate change and fast increasing consumption of water, it said.

The right to water would be treated as a citizen's right and sources of water considered a public asset. Strict controls would be enforced for commercial use of water.

New schemes like recycling waster water through scientific treatment methods would be encouraged.

To protect rivers from degradation, a River Management Authority would be formed, the policy said.