Govt to implement guidelines to protect water sources

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress led UDF government in Kerala on Saturday decided to strictly implement the guidelines for comprehensive protection of water sources in the wake of increasing water and environmental pollution.

A proper management action plan would be prepared for the protection for all major rivers and backwaters, an official release said here.

A water balance study will be done once in five years and vehicles would not be allowed to enter rivers for mining or washing. GPS facility would be used to determine borders of water bodies, it said.

On mining, it said sand mining will be allowed only along banks, that too after proper feasibility studies. Private individuals would not be allowed to mine or sell river sand. As part of the programme, local bodies would be asked to ensure that water bodies, especially drinking water sources in their respective areas, do not get polluted.

Civic bodies would be asked to establish waste management systems. The institutions and houseboats would be directed to have effective waste management disposal system, it said. Besides local bodies should set up special facilities for collection and disposing waste generated by markets, commercial centres, slaughter houses and broiler farms, it said.

Hospitals with over 50 beds should have modern sewerage treatment plants and those with less than 50 should dispose waste water in soakpits of septic tanks, the release said. Efforts should be taken to collect information on water sources and those getting extinct should be revived.

It said directive would be given to see that waste water from factories are not disposed off in water bodies.

Pollution Control Board would be told to get an undertaking from factories at the time of sanction that proper technologies are implemented for pollution control, it said. Coir industry would evolve new techniques to ret coconut husk in backwaters and streams. Industries lacking facility to dispose dangerous waste would be asked to utilise the services of the treatment facility in Ambalamedu, Kochi.

A timeframe would be provided to houseboats to implement waste disposal systems and licenses of those not abiding by it would be cancelled.

The agriculture department would be asked to make sure that use of pesticides and insecticides do not pollute water bodies. Organic farming would be made mandatory for agriculture farms and paddy fields near water bodies.

Traditional knowledge related to conservation of water bodies would be documented and further research would be undertaken on the subject, the release added.