PATHANAMTHITTA: The Pampa Parirakshana Samiti (PPS) has called upon the government to launch an integrated water resource development action plan for the four major river systems of Pampa, Achencoil, Manimala and Meenachil that empty out into Vembanad Lake.
In a memorandum to the government, PPS general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair said these rivers constituted the lifeline of Central Travancore. All these rivers had been facing threat of pollution, it would also affect the environment.
He said degradation of virgin forests in catchment areas, unscientific sand-mining, degradation of tributaries, pollution during pilgrim seasons, waste from hospitals, rubber factories, markets, houses along the river banks and illegal fishing methods using poison, dynamites were the major causes of degradation of these rivers.
Extensive deforestation in the catchments had resulted in the drying up of many tributaries of the river systems.
The condition of many bridges across the rivers and water pumping stations is precarious due to the drastic decline of the riverbed.
Mr. Nair said Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh had agreed to include Vembanad Lake in the National Wetland Conservation Plan which provided 100 per cent Central assistance.
He had also agreed in principle for including these rivers in the National River Conservation Plan.
Source: The Hindu,13-9-2010
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