The small islands--formed by the backwaters of Ashtamudi lake and Kallada river--in Kerala are sinking due to the rise in sea level and erosion. The saline water has started invading the localities, resulting in people migrating from these shrinking tiny islands. To save these scenic areas, the local authorities have sought assistance from global conservation organisations. They are also planning to plant mangroves around the islands to conserve them.
The Saraswati Heritage Development Board (SHDB) has proposed to discharge water into the route of the lost Saraswati river on July 30. The plan is to pump water through the Dadupur feeder into the river route that covers Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts. Sixty nine institutions have been involved in the revival of the Saraswati river. In the long run, there are plans to construct a dam at Adi Badri, considered the origin of this Vedic era river.
The union government has agreed to release Rs 3000 crore to the fund-starved Andhra Pradesh government for the Polavaram irrigation project. The water resources ministry, however, has objected to it and demanded a share of 90 percent from the Centre. The Polavaram project was allotted only Rs 100 crore in the current year’s budget, but due to the national importance of the project and its timely completion, the Centre has agreed to release more funds to this project.
Jalyukt Shivar has shown a significant impact in Maharashtra’s Nashik district as the 15 talukas in the district have been able to tap 3960 thousand cubic metre of water through the scheme. Under the programme, the government had carried out deepening of nullahs, weirs, check dams, cement plug dams by removing silt from these structures. In Nashik, the scheme resulted in the extraction of 39.61 lakh cubic metre of silt which is expected to double the collection of water through these structures.
As per the study conducted by Bengaluru University, as many as 12 indigenous Indian species of fish found in Bengaluru’s lakes are under the threat of extinction owing to pollution and climate change. The study taken up in 10 lakes, between Bengaluru and Melekote, have found that out of the 12 species, five are under the vulnerable category and the rest are endangered. The study further states that even the exotic fishes, that can tolerate high pollution and static water levels, are finding it difficult to sustain themselves.
This is a roundup of important news updates from July 17 - 23, 2016. Also read last fortnight's policy matters update.