Minister condemns pollution by chemical industries

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, AUG. 8. The PWD Minister of Pondicherry, Mr. N. Rangaswamy, today expressed his anguish at the virtual failure of policy makers to prevent the fast depletion of subsoil water in the Union Territory.

Inaugurating a week-long training programme on `management and reclamation of waterlogged saline and alkaline areas under an irrigation project` conducted by the Centrally- sponsored Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS) in collabroation with the PWD and Agriculture Departments here he said already depletion of water between 5 and 16 metres had been reported from different parts.

If no effective measure was taken to prevent further deterioration, the people would face scarcity in future. He also took exception to the damage caused by chemical industries to the environment and quality of sub-soil water.

The services of the WAPCOS, an undertaking of the Union Water Resources Ministry, had been requisitioned by the Administration for a fullfledged survey and report of feasibility and technical guidance to ensure augmentation of drinking water, with the Oussudu and Bahoor lakes. A sum of Rs.44 lakhs had been earmarked for the study.

Dr. R. Padmanabhan, Principal Secretary (Planning and Health) who presided said some ten years ago the Union Territory had a net cultivable land of 32,000 hectares. The area fell to 27,000 hectares now. There were 7000 deep tubewells which drawing water almost round the clock.

The extraction of water was heavy that there was no adequate replenishment of the sources. He stressed the need for biotechnological improvement in land and crop managements.

Mr. P. L. Diwan, chairman-cum-managing director of the WAPCOS stressed the need for auditing of water position and a fullfledged study of waterlogging and other aspects of resources should also be fully understood.

The WAPCOS was an international consultancy firm in the water and power sectors. It had been given ISO accreditation.

Mr. K. Ravi, Chief Engineer of Pondicherry PWD said the vital issue of conservation of water had not caught the attention of the user community.

Farmers should be made aware of the need for optimal use of water. Nearly 3000 hectares of fertile farm land in Karaikal lying at the tail-end of the Cauvery was affected by salinity.

The region consumed twenty percent of canal supplies towards flushing at the beginning of every irrigation season.

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Section  : Southern States
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