The Haritha Keralam Mission has a comprehensive system for water quality testing in the state. As part of this, testing labs will be set up in all local self-government institutions. Water quality labs will be set up in connection with chemistry labs in higher secondary schools in collaboration with the Education Department. Training will be provided to science teachers in the schools. Additional activities will have to be done such as setting up furniture, equipment including computers, and purchasing testing kits. For this, the government has issued an order allowing the use of money from the MLAs’ asset development fund. The aim is to test the quality of drinking water sources including wells and ponds. With the heat of summer, the availability of fresh water will decrease and water pollution will increase, thereby increasing the risk of infectious diseases. It is in this context that the state government has planned to expand facilities to test water quality. The Haritha Keralam Mission aims to test the water in over 60 lakh wells in Kerala and determine whether it is fit for drinking. The first phase will be conducted next month in the local bodies of Anchuthengu, Azhoor, Chirayinkeezhu, Kadakkavoor, Kizhuvilam, Mudakkal, Kadinamkulam, Mangalapuram in Chirayinkeezhu mandal of Thiruvananthapuram district, Chittoor-Thattamangalam Municipality in Chittoor mandal of Palakkad district, Eruthambathy, Kozhinjampara, Nallepilly, Pattenchery, Perumatty, Vadakarapathy, Peruvemba, Polpulli, and Ancharakandi, Chembilode, Kadambur, Muzhappilangad, Peralassery, Dharmadam, Pinarayi, and Vengad in Dharmadam mandal of Kannur district. The project will be launched. MLAs from other constituencies have already come forward to cooperate with the project. Haritha Keralam Mission Executive Vice Chairperson Dr. T.N. Seema announced that the project will be extended to all local bodies in the second phase.
