100
+Active Volunteers
Initiative of Friends of Bharathapuzha
Water Mission Palakkad 2030
Water Mission Palakkad 2030 is a five-year district-wide initiative launched in March 2025 to restore water security, revive traditional systems, and build a sustainable water future for Palakkad.
Led by Friends of Bharathapuzha (FoB), a registered people's collective committed to protecting the Bharathapuzha (River Nila), this mission brings together communities, experts, and government institutions to address the region’s growing water challenges through science, policy, and public participation.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Six Goals of Water Mission
Strategic priorities for building a water-secure and sustainable Palakkad
1: Ensuring Kerala’s Fair Share of Water
One of the mission’s key priorities is revisiting the Aliyar–Parambikulam water-sharing agreement with Tamil Nadu to ensure that Kerala receives its assured share during the critical lean months from January to May. Through constructive dialogue, scientific studies, transparent data sharing, and strengthened regulatory mechanisms, the mission advocates for an equitable and enforceable framework that safeguards the interests of the Chittoor region and sustains the Bharathapuzha basin.
2: Reviving Groundwater and Traditional Water Systems
Palakkad’s falling groundwater levels demand urgent action. The mission focuses on rejuvenating traditional ponds, tanks, and temple kulams while integrating modern groundwater recharge techniques. By restoring these heritage water bodies and strengthening watershed practices, we aim to rebuild the natural storage capacity of the region and enhance long-term resilience against drought.
3: Pollution-Free Water Bodies
Clean water is essential for health, agriculture, and ecological balance. Water Mission Palakkad 2030 works toward eliminating pollution through continuous water quality monitoring, improved waste management systems, and collaboration with regulatory authorities. By raising public awareness and advocating for better sanitation infrastructure, the mission seeks to protect every stream, pond, and river stretch from contamination.
4: Sustainable Water Distribution and Responsible Use
Water security depends not only on availability but also on efficiency. The mission promotes integrated water resource management across the basin, modernization of distribution systems, and reduction of water loss. It encourages industries to adopt water-neutral or water-positive technologies, maximize recycling, and comply strictly with environmental standards.
5: Scientific Water Budgeting for Local Bodies
For the first time at this scale, the mission aims to prepare and implement water budgets for all Local Self-Government Divisions in Palakkad district. By scientifically assessing water availability and demand at the local level, communities can identify deficits, plan interventions, and move toward balanced and accountable water management.
6: Water Volunteering – A People’s Movement
At the heart of Water Mission Palakkad 2030 is citizen participation. Volunteers play a central role in river clean-ups, pond rejuvenation, tree planting, awareness programs, and community monitoring. Through initiatives like “Puzha Paathashala,” students and youth become ambassadors of water conservation, ensuring that the next generation carries forward the responsibility of protecting our rivers.
Water Mission Palakkad 2030 is not just a project. It is a shared commitment to restore ecological balance, secure livelihoods, and build a sustainable future for the district.
By combining science, governance, traditional wisdom, and community action, Palakkad has the opportunity to become a model for water resilience in India.