Sunday, October 14, 2001
The social forestry part of the EMP is funded by the Union Ministry for Forests and Environment. The afforestation work will be completed over a period of three years. As per the plan, over eight lakh saplings of various species will be planted over the period. Of the total Rs. 2 crores estimated for the social forestry works, the Academy has already been sanctioned Rs. 80 lakhs. Afforestation activities will be mainly carried out in the highlands of the site.
No less important is the water conservation measures that have already been launched in the Academy project area by the Navy in association with the Kannur Water Conservation Society (KWCS). Of the entire Academy area which comprises 450 ha identified for infrastructure development and 170 ha of coastal area that includes sand beaches, backwaters and paddy fields, 380 ha area has been identified for watershed management. Out of the 380 ha area, water conservation measures have already been in place in an extent of 130 ha land. The water conservation works being outlined as part of the EMP include, among other things, rain water harvest, terracing, construction of check dams and digging of pits.
"We are planning to involve in the water conservation works volunteers from nearby areas who are ultimately going to be its major beneficiaries,'' says Mr. D. Krishnanatha Pai, secretary of the KWCS which has launched water conservation programmes at the Defence Security Corps Centre here, the Kunnothuparamba panchayat and the Central Jail. The water conservation measures will accelerate recharge of ground water and the water level in the area will go up by next year, he says adding that agricultural crop production in the area will also be increased.
Facilities including ferro-cement tanks for treating and conserving roof water harvesting and recharge pits have been almost completed. The second stage works include construction of contour bunds, trenches, check dams and terracing. "Once the buildings come up, we will take up the roof-water harvesting on a massive scale,'' says Commander Anoop Kumar. The mangrove-rich areas along the Kavvayi backwaters in the project site will also be preserved as part of the EMP, he adds.
The estimated cost of the water conservation works is Rs. 1.02 crore. The Central Ground Water Board has already allotted Rs. 10.2 lakhs for launching the first phase of the works.
