KSBB forms the Pampa conservation panel

PATHANAMTHITTA,  
The Hindu, October 5, 2015

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has constituted a Joint Pampa River Biodiversity Conservation Committee aimed at effective implementation of various river conservation schemes.

The committee comprises the biodiversity management committees in 26 grama panchayats situated on the banks of the Pampa and the Chengannur municipality.

The Pathanamthitta district panchayat president will be the committee chairman and the panchayat secretary its convener.

The Parliament Members of Pathanamthitta and Mavelikara, MLAs representing the Assembly constituencies on the banks of the river and the presidents of all the seven block panchayats in the Pampa river basin will be the committee members.

Pathanamthitta District Collector S. Harikishore; Pampa River Basin Authority director George Chackacherry; Pampa Parirakshana Samiti general secretary N.K. Sukumaran Nair; and the KSBB member-secretary will be the special invitees of the committee.

The Biodiversity Act of 2002 categorically states that each grama panchayat should set up a Biodiversity Management Committee to ensure conservation of its biodiversity with the panchayat president as its chairman and the panchayat secretary its convener.

Water scarcity

The Pampa and various other natural water sources turn almost dry in summer, plunging the river basin into acute water scarcity.

Many farmlands in the river basin become water-scarce and almost all rivulets emptying out into the Pampa too turn dry in the scorching sun. A good number of wells situated on the river banks too turn dry due to drastic depletion of the riverbed.

A study conducted by experts attached to the Pampa Parirakshana Samiti has found that the once-prolific river has lost its continuum, especially during the summer months when it turns to a chain of pools and grassy islands.

The unscientific scooping of sand from the riverbed has ultimately led to the present sorry state of affairs with this once-perennial fresh water source, say experts.