INTRODUCTION

Water supply policy of Government of India

                     Government of India(GOI) attaches greatest importance to safe drinking water supply and  recognizes its vital role in the health of the people. The National  Water Policy gives top priority to drinking water supply.  GOI has set a target of covering all the uncovered habitations in the country by 2003 AD. GOI provides funds to State Government under the aegis of the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission (RGNDWM) set  up   in 1990  specifically for this purpose. GOI  has also  laid down  minimal per capita water supply norms of 40 lpcd (liters per capita per day) in the rural areas and 70 lpcd in the urban areas. Though water is primarily under the jurisdiction of States, policies of GOI are applicable to the entire country. 

Policy and programmes of Government of Kerala

 About the State of Kerala

          The State of Kerala lies in the south-west corner of Indian peninsular between 8018’ and  12084’  North  latitude.  The  State  is  bounded  by Western Ghats in the  East,  the  Arabian  sea in  the  West, Tamil Nadu in the South and Karnataka  in  the  North.   Total   land   area   is  38,863 sq. km.   According  to  1991  census,  total population in the State is 290.99 lakhs with density per sq. km. as 749. The State has  been  divided  into  14  Districts spreading over 63 Taluks and 1452 Revenue Villages.  There  are  991 Panchayats, 53 Municipalities, 5 Corporations and  1 Township.

Policy and programmes  

           Though community managed traditional water supplys in the form of open dug  wells  and  ponds  have  been  in  existence for generations, the first form of protected water supply system in Kerala was started at Ernakulam Town in 1914. Another protected pipe water system for Trivandrum started in the 1930's by the erstwhile Travancore State.  After the formation  of  the present Kerala State, various urban and rural piped water supply schemes were initiated from first Five Year Plan onwards. In tune with the national thinking, Kerala has adopted a  comprehensive State  Water  Policy, in 1992,  the first of its kind in any state in the country.  The State Government has set a target of expanding water supply coverage to all in some fashion by 2001 AD. 

Kerala Water Authority

                    Kerala Water Authority was established on 1st April 1984 as an autonomous body of  Govt. of Kerala by converting  the erstwhile Public Health Engineering Department  for the  development  and  regulation  of  water supply and waste water collection and disposal in the state of Kerala. 

Responsibilities

 

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 Design, construction, execution, promotion, operation, maintenance and financing of  schemes for the supply of water and for the collection and disposal of the waste water.
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 Rendering all necessary services to the Government in relating to water supply and collection &  disposal of the waste water  in  the State of  Kerala.
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 Establishment of  standards for water supply and waste water services.
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 Fixation and revision of rates for water supply and sewerage maintenance  with the approval of Government.
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 Taking other measures necessary to ensure water supply in time of emergency.