Special missions on the anvil for integrated water management and wetland protection in Kerala

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The United Democratic Front (UDF) government is planning to have special missions and a commission for tackling issues related to integrated water management and protection of wetlands and rivers in the State.

The government has proposed a Kerala River Basin and Water Systems Mission, a Wetland Mission, and a Water Commission with the involvement of multiple departments under its Vision 2031 road map.

Under the Water Resources department, the government is planning to establish a Kerala River Basin and Water Systems Mission. Primarily aimed at promoting integrated water management, it will coordinate the activities of government departments, scientific institutions and community-led organisations in this regard. Three other departments — Local Self-Governments department, Programme Implementation, Evaluation and Monitoring department, and Environment department — will be involved in the mission.

A Kerala Wetland Mission is planned with the Environment department serving as the ‘anchor department’ for the protection of wetlands in the State and flood control. A ‘zero discharge’ programme is also planned in tandem with this mission to prevent the discharge of wastewater and industrial waste into rivers. The departments of Water Resources, Revenue and Disaster Management and Local Self-Governments will be actively involved in the proposed mission’s activities.

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These aside, the government is also planning to have a Water Commission to revive waterbodies in the State and to keep them clean. The UDF government had announced the Vision 2031 roadmap soon after coming to power in May this year. The roadmap lists 1,291 proposals including the flagship ‘Indira Guarantees’ and the ‘Dream Projects.’