Kerala: New proj in Guruvayoor to solve water scarcity

Thiruvananthapuram, July 24: The Kerala Government is planning to implement a project to solve the problem of water pollution and scarcity in Guruvayoor, one of the major pilgrim centres in the State, Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran told the State Assembly today.

The Guruvayoor Devaswom, which governed the famed Shree Krishna Temple, had agreed to bear the expenses of the project, he said, responding to questions from Mr George M Thomas (CPM) and others.

Since it required certain amendments in the Devaswom Act, a final decision in this regard would be taken after discussing the matter with State Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran, he added.

Stating that the Government had noted that mineral water distributed in the State did not maintain quality and the administration had received certain complaints in this regard, the Minister said the Government was planning to start bottling plants in the State and as a pilot project, the first unit would be started in Aruvikkara here.

Mr Premachandran said the Government would bring in a new legislation in the next Assembly session to check water exploitation in the State and an amendment in this regard had been prepared.

According to a sample survey, it was found that water in 85 per cent wells in the State were not potable, he added.

UNI