Research Problem:

"Kerala, which is one of the wettest places in the country, is behind arid Rajasthan in per capita
availability of drinking water," (Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM),
Kozhikode.)

Kerala, which enjoys the status of being India's 100% literate state, is in trouble due to poor
water conservation and faulty planning. According to Magsaysay Award winner, Rajendra Singh, a
leading exponent on water literacy: "The state might have attained total literacy more than a decade
ago. But it's still illiterate as far as conservation of bio-diversity is concerned."
Kerala's leanings towards a centralized system of pipes to deliver safe drinking water to everyone
continues to parch thousands all over the state. The cost of drinking water projects has increased six
times in the last two decades, touching Rs 719.53 crore by the Ninth Five-Year Plan. All along, the
issue of water conversation has been ignored.

Context:
It is true that this small piece of land is blessed with 44 rivers. Though these rivers are there,
with the national norm, Kerala does not have a single major river and has only four medium rivers. The
total catchment of all these rivers is only 28739 sq. kms and have a discharge of 72873 MCM. A single
southern river has a discharge of 105000 MCM. Precisely it indicates that the combined total discharge
of our 44 rivers is less than the discharge of one single southern river i.e. Godhavari.
The state of Kerala, is blessed with abundant rainfall with an average annual rainfall of 3100
mm. Annual rainfall shows considerable spatial and temporal variation. Although the state receives
about 2.8 times the national average rainfall, the population density in the state is also about 2.5 times
the all India average. According to expert opinion, government policies over the years have worsened
the effects of the state's natural disadvantages. The fact that the steep slopes of the Western Ghats
carry rainwater to the sea within 48 hours of their precipitation as the average width of the state is 70
km has been repeatedly overlooked. Kerala has also mismanaged its natural resources and failed to
check deforestation, sand mining and pollution in almost all its rivers, say experts.
The people of this Gods own country meets their drinking water requirement through the available 44
lakh open wells. This is the only land in the world having the maximum well density i.e. It is estimated
that in Kerala for every seven persons there is a well. About 80 per cent of the population, especially in
rural areas, depends on open wells for meeting their water requirements, while in urban it goes to
nearly 50 per cent.
Per capita resources availability is a better indication of richness of an area than resources availability
in unit land. Total fresh water availability of any country or a basin remains more or less constant but
the population in those geographical boundaries increases thereby the per capita fresh water
availability decreases with time. During the last 100 years Indias per capita water availability decreased
fourfold, whereas for Kerala it has been decreased fivefold. The per capita water availability for India is
about 15600 lpcd, while for Kerala it is 12500 lpcd and for Rajasthan 16000 lpcd. For Kerala the
availability split is as follows:
Year
Rain
Surface water
Ground water
2001
9450
1022
590

The new studies cautioned that the ground water levels of Kerala wells have declined within a range of
30 cm to 3 mts within a period of five years. The extrapolation of these water level plots seriously
indicate that, a huge number of wells in Kerala may become permanently dry shortly if the prevailing
hydro geological situation is allowed to continue as such. In 2003, the government declared seven out
of 14 districts in the state drought-affected. A study on water use and resources conducted by the
Centre of Excellence in Environmental Economics (CEEE) of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU)
predicts severe water scarcity in the State by 2021.These studies also revealed that serious quality
hazards are stepping in, though the gravity is less. Huge extraction of ground water made certain
blocks as dart area. Where the discharge from the aquifer being high and the natural recharge being
insufficient, water conservation and artificial recharge became vital and critical.

For the future:

It is an established fact that the demand for groundwater is increasing day by day and the recharge is
decreasing with time. So, now there is wide gap between demand and supply, which we call as
shortage or deficit of ground water. The degree of pollution, deforestation etc. amplifies the bad effect
of these deficits. We cannot manage this deficit only by adopting textbook conservation techniques.
What is highly needed is a basic change in our water using habits so as to avoid wastage of water.
Present day statistics reveals that an average Keralite is misusing 80 litres of water every day. Against
the WHO standard of 120 LPD/person, our minimum use is 200 LPD.
Protection of water resources, stringent measures against pollution, deforestation, filling of
fields, ponds and a total retrieval of our conventional method of land use is the need of the day.
Simultaneously rainwater harvesting, ground water recharge and of course controlling the population
etc. should be resorted to. Desalination, recycling and reuse can also be resorted to a great extent
provided these methods are made cost effective.

References:
Water Availability Demand Viability, K.V. Mohanan Senior Hydro Geologist, Ground water Dept
Kerala Development Report 2008, Planning Commission, Government of India,
Tehelka, March 13, 2004- http://infochangeindia.org/water-resources/news/faulty-water-planningcauses-water-scarcity-in-wet-kerala.html
Kerala headed for water scarcity- The Hindu: THRISSUR, July 26, 2014
-CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD -GROUND WATER INFORMATION BOOKLET OF
KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, KERALA STATE By Dr. V.S Joji, Scientist B
-National Level Conference on Water Management Scenario 2025 Problems, Issues and Challenges.
WATER SCENARIO 2025- Prof. P.G. Shinde
-Studies on water quality problems of Kozhikode
-Report on aquifer systems of Kerala