Kerala: CM Pinarayi launches India’s first water budget

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala: Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala has become the first state in the country to launch a water budget by calculating the availability and consumption of water in the state. The water budget includes how much water can be received by an area based on the consumption pattern of its population.

The CM launched the public water budget, along with inaugurating the rehabilitation project of the Western Ghats drainage networks as part of the first phase of the Ini Njan Ozhukatte’ (Let me flow now) campaign in the capital city Thiruvananthapuram.

Vijayan said, “Studies indicate that water availability is decreasing in Kerala. Therefore, it is necessary to devise programmes to ensure water storage and calculate water consumption.”

The water budget has been formulated by a committee of representatives from the State Water Resource Department and information technology experts with the support of the Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM).

15 block panchayats and 94 gram panchayats have prepared the water budget in the first phase. It is expected that other panchayats will complete this exercise in time bound manner. Vijayan also said that local bodies’ participation should also be ensured in such a way so we could use the summer rains for agriculture and irrigation.