Workshop on : `Conservation and Management of Rivers'

25th August 2005 at Retreat Centre, Maramon

The samithy has conducted a one day workshop on `Conservation and Management of Rivers' on 25/08/05 at Retreat Centre, Maramon, Kozhencherry as part of Environmental Education and awareness campaign with the support of Kerala Water Authority and Kerala Land Use Board. Sri. Alphons Kannamthanam, I.A.S., Revenue Commissioner, Govt. of Kerala was the Chief Guest.

Senior officials from Revenue, Police, Water Resources, Mining and Geology and various Government Departments   participated. Well-known Scientist from CESS, CWRDM, Universities and Environmentalists and Lawyers from various parts of Kerala  participated  and present papers in the workshop.

Tentative programme is as follows.

10 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. - Conservation and Management of Rivers.

Kerala Protection of River Banks and regulation of Removal of Sand Act 2001.

1.00 p.m. - 1.30 p.m. - Lunch

1.30 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. - Paddy field /wetlands filling and its effect on environment and management of wetlands in relation with rivers.

Hillock destruction and its effect on aquifer.

4.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. - Validatory Session

Pampa Action Plan

Report

The one day State Level workshop was held on 29-01-2005 at Retreat Centre, Maramon, Pathanamthitta District as part of Environmental Education and awareness programme in connection with the proposed Pampa Action Plan with the support of KSCSTE.

The Hon. Minister for Water Resources Sri. Thiruvenjoor Radhakrishnan inaugurated the programme on function presided over by Smt. Malethu Saraladevi M.L.A., Prof. P.J. Kurian M.P., Sri. K. K. Royson, President District Panchayat Pathanamthitta, Sri. P. S. Gopinathan Nair, President All Kerala River Protection Council were also among the speakers at the inaugural session.

Presentation of papers on the work shop

1) Dr. Bijoy Nandan, CIFRI, Alapuzha - Anthropogenic Interventions in River Pampa and Protocols for its Management.

2) Dr. S. Sreekumar - Professor Christ College, Irrinjalakkuda. Impact of Anthropogenic Interference on Resources in Rivers and Scientific Management.

3) Advt. Jacob P. Alex - Advocate, High Court of Kerala. Environmental disaster - legal and policy.

Dr. K.N.P. Kurup, Formerly Professor, N.S.S. College, Pandalam and Prof. T. N. Ramakrishnakurup, Former Professor, Birla Institute, Pilani, Rajasthan were moderators.

Prof. K. J. Antony, (Christ College, Irrinjalakkuda, Prof. S. Sukumaran Nair, Rtd. from Agricultural University) Prof. Varghese Mathew (BAM College, Thuruthikadu, Prof. P. A. Sajudhin, St. Thomas Collge, Pathanapuram, Prof. A. K. Sreekumar (D.B. College, Parumala and Dr. Thomas P. Thomas, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry took part as resource persons inthe discussions.

Sri. Rajan Kannattu, Muncipal Chairman,Chengannur, Sri. Victor T. Thomas, President Kozhencherry Grama Panchayat, Smt. Sosamma Philip (President Cherukole Grama Panchayat,