The Hindu Business Line : Call for legislation to protect Kerala rivers

ALL-Kerala River Protection Council has urged the Chief Minister to enact legislation to constitute a State-level river authority and river boards for each river for preservation and protection of rivers.

Mr P.S. Gopinathan Nair, President of the Council said that it had already submitted draft legislation to the Chief Minister and the Minister for Water Resources in this regard.

He said that rivers were the major water sources. Potable and clean water had become scarce due to mismanagement of rivers. As the Government is the trustee of the rivers and other water sources, rivers should be protected to ensure uninterrupted availability of fresh water.

He pointed out that existing legislations were inadequate or had failed to protect the Kerala's river ecology.

Therefore, a legislation, by name Kerala River Protection and Water Conservation Act, is essential to ensure protection of rivers.

The draft legislation proposed by the council had taken into account the following factors; meeting the basic human needs of present and future generations; promoting equitable access to water; promoting the efficient, sustainable and beneficial use of water in public interest; protecting aquatic and associated eco-systems and their biological diversity; reducing and preventing pollution and degradation of water resources; promoting dam safety; and ensuring adequate minimum flow of water in all the state's rivers.

The legislation seeks to constitute a State level river authority headed by a retired High Court judge and river boards headed by a District Judge.

The river authority could take steps for protecting and improving the river systems and quality of water in the water bodies.

The board would have the power to issue special orders banning sand extraction from rivers at any kadavu and stoppage of construction on riverbanks, he added.

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