49-Stakeholders Participation in Groundwater Governance in Kerala.

Abstract

A new water policy for the Kerala State is required to implement the National Water Policy in a sustainable manner. The current regime of water resources does not recognise stakeholder participation or participatory approach towards water resources management. Water resources management entails the coordination of water related functions such as the issuance of authorisation for water use, the protection of water recourses, water utilisation and conservation, water pricing policy, the development of the water resources, public safety and disaster prevention, monitoring, assessment and collection of data on water and related issues as well as the management of groundwater resources. It has already been recognized that groundwater has many discriminate uses and users. It is therefore of utmost importance that social concerns, such as the water rights, be clearly defined with due concern for the interests of local people, as important prerequisites for their existence. Mass awareness on conservation and protection of groundwater is also required. The general attitude at community level is that water is God given and a blessing from God and should therefore be accessed free of charge, used and misused by members of the community for whatever purpose intended. But its high time that we should change our attitude towards water.