RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY FOR COMPREHENSIVE WATER SUPPLY IN TSUNAMI AFFECTED PANCHAYATS OF KERALA

Funding Agency: Kerala Water Authority, Government of Kerala

The Kerala Water Authority is implementing a Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme in the Tsunami affected coastal Panchayats of Chavara and Panmana in Kollam district. The Tsunami waves which lashed over the coast of Southern Kerala on 26th December 2004 caused a severe shortage of drinking water in the coastal areas. Though interim arrangements like supply of water through tanker lorries, renovation of tube wells etc were done on war footing, quality as well as quantity remained a matter of grave concern. For a permanent solution to the drinking water needs of these areas, comprehensive piped water supply scheme having a reliable surface source have been conceived by the KWA, which will be implemented jointly with Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and the Chavara and Panmana Grama panchayats. The project has received financial support from World Bank, operated through KRWSA.

The project involves collection and compilation of all environment data including climate, ecology, physical environment, biological environment, source adequacy, catchment area, effect on quarries, air quality and noise level, effect of discharge of waste from the treatment plants, rehabilitation requirements, analysis of the effect on environment by implementation of the project. Based on the data generated, a Rapid Environment Impact Assessment was carried out, and an Environmental Monitoring Plan generated giving guidelines for mitigation measures of adverse environmental effects.