20-The Kerala Ground Water Act in Relation to Regional Hydrogeological Conditions of the State.

Abstract

The Kerala Ground Water Act recognizes ground water as a valuable resource to be used for the benefit of all sections of society. Seasonal rainfall, limited subsurface storage space and low water retention in laterite make ground water a rather scarce commodity in the state. The main features of the Ground Water Act are discussed in this paper. One of the primary requirements for groundwater management is availability of data on existing wells. The provisions in the Act may lead to the creation of a partial database on wells. A detailed well census is required for a proper assessment of the status of groundwater resources in the state. Large regional variations in availability and use of ground water call for different management approaches in different areas. Application of the same rule may have different consequences in different places. Hence it is necessary to apprecihte the spirit behind the Act while implementing it. Case studies of a few panchayats are given to illustrate the point. While different interpretations of groundwater rights are possible, the Kerala Act seems to uphold the principle of reasonable use. The need for groundwater pricing leading to more efficient use of the resource is stressed