Govt wants to build new dam at Mullaperiyar: Minister

Kottayam: Water resources and housing minister Mons Joseph said govt’s stance was to build a new dam at Mullaperiyar.

Speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme in the city on Monday, he said efforts would be made for Kerala and Tamil Nadu to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

Kerala will frame a new water policy that is more beneficial to the public, said Joseph. “The aim is to transform water resources department into a public-welfare department. The department will take all necessary steps to implement public-benefit projects and ensure drinking water reaches people. Presently, in many places, water is not reaching the pipelines laid under Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. Even though more water connections are being issued, water is not reaching anywhere. To fix this, more drinking-water sources will have to be identified,” he said.

“Irrigation projects are also being reviewed. Irrigation schemes must function to benefit the agricultural sector. Projects are being advanced with central cooperation, and funds must be sanctioned from central govt. Funding possibilities from agencies like ADB also need to be explored. Taking projects forward in a people-friendly way will be possible by formulating a new water policy. A high-level conclave will be held for this,” he added.

“Reservoirs and canals are choked with silt. Flooding is worsening in areas, including Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad. Using machines, sand and silt deposited on riverbeds must be removed to ease the flow of water. Nothing from the Kuttanad package has come into action. Merely allocating money in budgets is pointless. Govt will design action plans to carry out sand removal and dredging in a corruption-free manner,” Joseph said.

Housing board is under threat of closure, said the minister. “It is in a situation where it cannot even pay salaries. Govt has taken up the major challenge of revitalising housing board. Although there are lands and buildings in various places, they haven't been made useful. Shortcomings will be rectified with proper maintenance,” he said.

Joseph said govt would take up and implement projects to build houses for the poor with the support of voluntary organisations, including expatriate groups.