Kerala facing acute water scarcity: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 7: Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran today told the State Assembly that the state was moving towards serious water scarcity following Monsoon failure.

Replying to questions from Mr V Chendamarakshan (CPM ) and others, he said though the state had received good summer rainfall, the Monsoon rainfall this year was 65 per cent less than the previous year.

Stating climatic change had affected water resources gravely, he said the government would take the issue very seriously and added that it had to be studied as it was a social issue.

Mr Premachandran said the government was seriously considering effecting necessary changes in the building rules to check misuse of water.

The Water Resources Minister said though the Water Authorities had recommended a hike in water charges, the government had not taken a decision in this regard so far.

UNI