CM writes to Jaya for review of water sharing agreements

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart as part of initiating talks on renewal of interstate waters agreements between the two states, state water resources Minister Mathew T Thomas informed the assembly.
Thomas informed the house that Tamil Nadu did not respond to the letter. The water resources minister said this in the assembly in response to the questions raised in this regard by former minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
The opposition wanted either Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan or the water resources minister to answer the queries regarding the steps, if any, taken by the LDF government to streamline the water sharing agreements with Tamil Nadu.
While replying to the debate on discussion and voting on demands for grants in water resources and irrigation department, Minister Mathew T Thomas told the assembly that the government was planning to set up water purification plants and drinking water schemes in all panchayaths in another five years. The estimated amount of Rs 5,000 crore would be met with the financial support of KIFBI and NABARD.
Reacting to Thrikkakkara MLA, PT Thomas' request for introducing restrictions on digging of bore wells, Mathew T Thomas said there was no provisions at present to put restrictions on digging of bore well digging at any particular area.
Former agriculture minister Mullakkara Rathnakaran called for consensus among the ruling and opposition parties on evolving scheme of programmes towards conservation of fresh water. ``The task is a herculean one and it needs the support and participation of everyone. The concept and need of water conservation should be introduced in school syllabus’’, he said.
Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, K krishnankutty told the assembly that the state should shed its passive attitude towards violation of interstate water agreements by states that share agreements with the state. ``We have proved a failure in ensuring our lawful share of water in agreements with other states. We should at least take steps to stop other states from taking way our share of water as per the agreements’’, he said. He also wanted the state government to set up a high power permanent committee to look into the implementation of the water sharing agreement with other states.