The Hindu : Five joint development schemes completed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Five joint development schemes completed

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE JUNE 24. Five water-based development projects in the city entrusted by the Kozhikode Corporation to the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) for its technical assistance have been completed.

The research institute had provided technical support in the form of modern scientific designs for these projects.

The projects are a rainwater harvesting facility at the Asha Bhavan of the Social Welfare Department, a similar structure and a point at the juvenile home for girls at Vellimadukunnu and a storm-water drainage on M.M. Ali Road in the busy Palayam area and an artificial wetland demonstration plot on CWRDM campus.

The projects were formally handed over the Corporation Mayor, Thottathil Ravindran, today.

These projects form part of the Mission for Application of Technology to Urban Renewal and Engineering (MATURE) of the l Union Government's Science and Technology Department.

Under this programme, the Kozhikode Corporation would be provided Rs. 60 lakhs for a Rs. 80-lakh scheme prepared by it with technical support of CWRDM for an integrated development plan. The Corporation's share is Rs. 20 lakhs.

Presiding over the function, the CWRDM Executive Director, E.J. James, said his research institute was ready to undertake more joint ventures with the Kozhikode Corporation.

This was the first joint venture involving the Kozhikode Corporation and a research and development institute. The works were completed within a year.

Dr. James also stressed the need for more schemes for water conservation and water management since water scarcity was growing at an alarming rate and causing conflicts. Intensive campaigns were needed to raise the general level of awareness about the growing value of water.

More so, since in terms of quantity and quality of water available, India's position was unenviable. It was second from bottom in the list of international communities in this matter.

The artificial wetland development scheme completed on the CWRDM campus would be replicated in other places. Wetland development is considered urgent and ecologically important since its size in the city is shrinking. This had led to waste water flowing directly to the Canolly canal.

CWRDM has attempted on its demonstration plot a method for wetland development by growing trees so that waste water would be absorbed.

Dr. Saha, adviser to the Union Government on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Krishnan, Director, State Committee for Science Technology and Environment, and Dr A. Achyuthan, social activist and former Dean for Students Affairs in Calicut University, also attended the function.

The Mayor presented the Superintendents of the Asha Bhavan and the Juvenile Home, models of the rain water-harvesting structures built in their institutions.

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