VEMBANAD WATER WATCH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

ATREE-CERC
ALLEPPEY,KERALA, India, 22 Mar 08

Vembanad Water Watch Partnership Programme
Community Environmental Resource center of ATREE at Alleppey is launching a programme for regular information about water quality for understanding the condition of the water resources and to provide a basis for effective policies that promotes wise use and better management of the Vembanad Lake. This programme aims to develop a scientific and pragmatic methodology for participatory monitoring of the water quality involving local community, stakeholders and other interested agencies /groups.
• Educate and train volunteers from various stakeholders i.e. fishermen, agriculturists, clam shell collectors, houseboat workers and others, on water quality issues and monitoring.
• Set up basin stations for water quality monitoring at identified points and determine water quality at sampling sites.
• To establish a publicly accessible comprehensive database on water quality
• The project also aims to educate stakeholders i.e. fishermen, agriculturists, clam shell collectors, houseboat workers etc. It also aims to make the lake side residents, interested citizens and policy makers aware of the qualitative deterioration of the lake due to various reasons and in various seasons
Inauguration of this Vembanad Water Watch Programme, locally named as "Jaladarpanam” is scheduled on the World Water Day 2008 at Alleppey, Kerala. A full day event involving dignitaries and stakeholders of Alleppey and Vembanad Ramsar site will be organized by ATREE- CERC, at Alleppey, Kerala in connection with the World Water Day 2008.
A one day workshop on water quality monitoring and sanitation issues will be organized for the partners of the Jaladarpanam programme. Meeting of the steering committee on Water Quality monitoring, release of the various handbooks and documents prepared for the stakeholders, distribution of water quality monitoring field kits, etc will be done on the same day. Fourteen Basin Stations set up around the Vembanad Lake will become functional from this day. Monthly water quality monitoring data will be published in our website thereafter. Analyzing the results, remedial interventions through appropriate short term and long term Action plans will be chalked out in collaboration with the Local Panchayaths , All interested Agencies and Organizations are invited to participate associate with these events .

Contact: LATHA BHASKAR <drlathabhaskar@gmail.com>