Kerala Backwaters Are the State’s prime Tourist Attractions

Kerala Backwaters are a series of lagoons that are aligned parallel to the Arabian Sea. These backwaters are all situated in Malabar Coast of Southern India. Abundant with natural beauty, these Kerala Backwaters are the state’s prime tourist attractions. These backwaters of Kerala are nourished aplenty throughout the year by 38 rivers. These Kerala backwaters are:

Kollam

Kollam was earlier known as Quilon. It was once one of the prime trade hubs of India. Travelers like Iban Batuta and Marco Polo had visited this place in the past. It is the preparatory part of the Kerala backwaters. 30 percent of Kollam is covered by Ashtamudi Kayal. The Thangassari Fort is another major tourist attraction of Kerala located near Kollam backwater. Kollam is an easy reach from the other parts of the state.

Alappuzha

Alappuzha was previously known as Alleppy. It attracts tourists every year. The interweaving canals of the area resemble Venice. The palm trees that have surrounded the Kuttanad region have created an amazing scenic beauty. There is a host of historical buildings beside the lagoon. The place is an easy reach from Tiruvananatpuram.

Kuttanad

Kuttanad itself is a major tourist attraction of Kerala. The level of the water here in this lagoon of Kerala is higher than the level of land. The wonderful labyrinth of canals, lakes and rivers feed the backwater region of Kerala yearlong. The place is a backwater heaven and visited by millions of visitors every year. The place is well-allied to the other parts of the state.

Water resources in India: An Overview

Map of water Resources in India

Water is among the major natural resources and the basic human requirement. It is a priceless national asset, the optimum utilization and efficient development of which is very significant for the growth of the country. Water resources in India includes the oceans that surround the Indian peninsula like the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the inland rivers, rain water and ground water.

The profuse water resources in India are adequate for water supply throughout India if only the water supply is managed efficiently. “Water resource management” in our country is the need of the hour to sustain the huge Indian population. The different areas of the Indian economy like agriculture, household, domestic, industry, environment, power, transport and fisheries are linked to water management. The Indian water infrastructure system includes tapping of the water sources, facilities of water storage, regular cleaning of water tanks, suitable water treatment and water purification, use of water, water pollution, problems faced due to shortage of water, water policies in India for water conservation and harvesting etc.

An overview of the water resources in India shows that it is water resource management which is very crucial and where India fails badly. The Government of India has set up many water management bodies and systems in India for the efficient management of Indian water resources. Some of these include the Central Water Commission, National Water Development Agency, Central Ground Water Board, National Projects Construction Corporation Ltd. etc. The policies undertaken by the Government of India for the same are Irrigation Management Policy, National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan, National Policy Guidelines, Water Information Bill, River Basin Organization Policy, etc. Other water reserve projects have also been taken up by “Ministry of Water Resources” like construction of dams.

Continuous and undisturbed water supply is the basic need of Indian industries as India is mainly an agricultural society. Besides, safe supply of drinking water is an important area where the Indian Government needs work more since groundwater is not an unending source of water.

The huge water requirements in India have created a situation of water crisis where an efficient water conservation strategy is needed. Some of the steps that have been taken in this area are water treatment plans, careful inspection of the divisions of water supply and also the projects undertaken for controlling water pollution, construction of reservoirs and dams etc. Proper water conservation methods at the right time can solve the problem of water shortage in India.