The News Review:

- VS: Munnar operation part of steps to save natural resources
- States’ $1bn water cash cow
- Water woes haunt people of Madikeri

VS: Munnar operation part of steps to save natural resources
Hindu – May 18, 2007
Achuthanandan has said that the ongoing operation against land grab at Munnar is part of the Government’s efforts to save the State’s hills and forests and wetlands from greed-driven exploitation. Inaugurating the Ezhimala Naval Academy Drinking Water Supply Scheme here on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan said that the State was no longer a water resource-rich State. There was a time when the State used to be proud of its water resources as the forests and the hills continued to yield water, he said adding that the State had gone down from that situation as the groundwater level was depleting. As a result, many regions in the State were fast being pushed to severe water crisis and drought conditions, he said. Using the fable of the golden egg laying goose, the Chief Minister said that the attitude of the farmer who cut open the goose to get the whole store of the precious metal was still prevailing when it came to utilisation of natural resources…
Inaugurating the Ezhimala Naval Academy Drinking Water Supply Scheme here on Thursday, Mr. Achuthanandan said that the State was no longer a water resource-rich State. There was a time when the State used to be proud of its water resources as the forests and the hills continued to yield water, he said adding that the State had gone down from that situation as the groundwater level was depleting. As a result, many regions in the State were fast being pushed to severe water crisis and drought conditions, he said. Using the fable of the golden egg laying goose, the Chief Minister said that the attitude of the farmer who cut open the goose to get the whole store of the precious metal was still prevailing when it came to utilisation of natural resources. Filling of paddy fields and wetlands and demolition of hills were a reflection of this attitude, the Chief Minister said. He also said that ecologically sensitive paddy fields were being converted as part of real estate business.

States’ $1bn water cash cow
NEWS.com.au – May 18, 2007
And dams levels continued to languish, with Sydney’s dams at 37 per cent of capacity yesterday, Melbourne’s reserves at 30 per cent and Adelaide relying on the increasingly parched Murray River. The dividend raids came to light in the 2005-06 urban water utilities National Performance Report, released by the National Water Commission in Canberra yesterday. Federal Environment and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull attacked the state spending as reckless at a time when the nation was struggling with water scarcity. "While the Australian Government has put a $10 billion plan on the table as a massive investment in national water security, the state governments have taken a cash-cow approach to the urban water utilities, rather than reinvesting in the system," Mr Turnbull told The Australian. Knee-jerk dismissalNational Water Commission chief executive Ken Matthews said the figures showed there was plenty of scope for technical and structural water use efficiencies across the country – including distribution and storage efficiency and non-rain-dependent water supplies. Mr Matthews also criticised governments for their "indefensible", knee-jerk dismissal of some water supply options, such as recycled water, and called for a national approach to pricing and a uniform water restriction regime. According to the report, state governments took $987…
"While the Australian Government has put a $10 billion plan on the table as a massive investment in national water security, the state governments have taken a cash-cow approach to the urban water utilities, rather than reinvesting in the system," Mr Turnbull told The Australian. Knee-jerk dismissalNational Water Commission chief executive Ken Matthews said the figures showed there was plenty of scope for technical and structural water use efficiencies across the country – including distribution and storage efficiency and non-rain-dependent water supplies. Mr Matthews also criticised governments for their "indefensible", knee-jerk dismissal of some water supply options, such as recycled water, and called for a national approach to pricing and a uniform water restriction regime. According to the report, state governments took $987. 2 million from water authorities in dividends in 2005-06, mainly driven by higher water charges levied on consumers. The largest increases in dividends were paid out in Adelaide and Perth. The West Australian Government grabbed the largest overall dividend, $362 million, and Canberra the smallest, $29.

Water woes haunt people of Madikeri
Hindu – May 18, 2007
But where would they get the water from? Residents of Vanachalu and Galibeedu villages near here have objected to water being drawn from sources in their villages as was done last year. The municipality authorities, including councillors, have been hoodwinking people for the last several decades over drinking water. Politicians endlessly debate the issue of drinking water supply. Some want the Betri Project from where Cauvery water could be drawn for Madikeri, while others are opposed to this. Even during the monsoon season, water supply is not regular. Power failures hit water supply. Generator sets are available but sources in the municipality said funds were not enough to buy diesel to run the machines…
Politicians endlessly debate the issue of drinking water supply. Some want the Betri Project from where Cauvery water could be drawn for Madikeri, while others are opposed to this. Even during the monsoon season, water supply is not regular. Power failures hit water supply. Generator sets are available but sources in the municipality said funds were not enough to buy diesel to run the machines. Efforts to plug the leakage at Kootuhole and build a substitute pond to store overflowing water at Roshanara, did not help either. There are complaints that residents in certain localities such as Cauvery Layout and surrounding areas are getting regular supply and have installed several tanks to store water for days.