World | India
Much water in Kerala, but little to drink
Boasting of sufficient rainfall, 44 rivers, thousands of streams and a number of lakes, Kerala ironically has less water available per person than drought-hit states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, says a World Bank report.
- IANS
- Published: 00:08 July 14, 2008
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Boasting of sufficient rainfall, 44 rivers, thousands of streams and a number of lakes, Kerala ironically has less water available per person than drought-hit states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, says a World Bank report.
The report cited the unusual position of the coastal state's land that allows 40 per cent of its rainwater to flow wastefully into the sea and its increasing population as the reason. Kerala receives three times more rainfall than other parts of India.
The water scarcity issue was raised in a World Bank report published to explain the success of the implementation of the "Jalanidhi project", a state government initiative to provide water facilities in rural areas. The World Bank is supporting the project with a loan of $53.2 million (Dh195,2 million).
K. Prasannakumar, an official overlooking the Jalanidhi project, said that the report is based on information provided by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, an autonomous research organisation in Kerala.
Increasing demand
Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran said that while making a statement in the legislative assembly last week, he had spoken of the increasing demand for water.
Around 3,681 water supply schemes, managed by beneficiary groups, have been completed through the Jalanidhi project in the first phase, he added.
The World Bank report also said that the people of the "spice-scented corner of the Malabar coast" have for the first time in years not been short of water between February and May.
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