Conference On "Water Resources Management"
Mayor R. Venkatachalam speaking at a conference on "Water Resources Management" at CMS College of Science and Commerce in Coimbatore. Community participation is the only way through which water source management can be effectively implemented, M.V. Ranghaswamy, Director, Water Technical Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, said here recently. Speaking at a conference on “Water Resources Management” at the CMS College of Science and Commerce, he said for water resource management a change in attitude was more important than mere financial investment. “The level of groundwater is going down in an alarming manner in Coimbatore as well in other parts in Tamil Nadu. Over-exploitation of water is the main reason for this. Rain water harvesting must become a community mission,” he pleaded.
He urged the Corporation to enforce suitable laws to make rain water harvesting compulsory for building plan approval. The ward councillors could do a lot in ensuring community participation at the grass root level so that future generations were saved from acute water scarcity. “Waste water management is another area where the leaders must organise the communities. Waste water let into the ponds and canals is a problem of great magnitude that has led to proliferation of water hyacinths.
This weed has done immense damage to the flora and fauna and also upset the eco system by choking the fresh water sources. Hence, prevention of flow of waste water into canals and ponds is required,” he added. The conference, which was held for the councillors, was inaugurated by Mayor R. Venkatachalam. Deputy Mayor N. Karthick, Chairman of CMS Trust M.P. Gopalakrishnan, and officials from OISCA International and Coimbatore Corporation spoke.
