The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore, will take up with the State Government, District Administration and Coimbatore Corporation the need for more measures for better water management in the State.
This was one of the resolutions passed at the annual meeting of the chamber held here on Monday.
The State has six per cent of the country’s population and water that is available to the State is just three per cent. The State Government should constitute a high-level committee, including scientists and environmentalists, to prepare a Plan of Water Usage in the State.
There is an urgent need to strengthen the existing water resources such as reservoirs, tanks and lakes. The concept of reduce, reuse and recycle should be promoted, rain water harvesting structures should be constructed, sewage treatment plants set up and water bodies desilted on a periodical basis.
The State has introduced the slogan “More crop for each drop” for farmers. This should be extended to other segments too.
Regarding water management measures in the district, the Chamber pointed out that about 10 years ago, it was estimated that 600 rain water harvesting structures are needed in the city. Now, nearly 2,000 structures are required as the city has expanded.
So far, only 365 rain water harvesting structures have been constructed. Cost effective sewage treatment plants should be set up near the water bodies in the city to prevent contamination of ground water, action should be taken against processing units located in the Corporation limit if they are found letting out effluents into the river, unlicensed water bottling plants should be monitored, and the State Government should initiate talks to desilt the Siruvani.
The chamber also sought reconstitution of the Coimbatore District Traffic Advisory Committee so that representatives from the trade, industry and service organisations are included in it.
The chamber would also appeal to the Government to establish a trade facilitation council to settle trade disputes.
