CERC’s Vembanad Water Watch Partnership Program or Jaladarpanam is developing a scientific and pragmatic methodology for participatory water quality monitoring involving local community, panchayats, and other interested agencies /groups. The major activities involve educating and training volunteers from various stakeholders i.e. fishermen, agriculturists, clam shell collectors, houseboat workers, environmental activists, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and others on water quality issues and monitoring; setting up basin stations for water quality monitoring at identified points and determine water quality at regular intervals and establishing a publicly accessible comprehensive database on water quality. Ten Basin stations have been set up near the lake to do the water quality monitoring on a sample basis.
The program is expected to build public awareness about lake pollution, play a major role in monitoring the health of Vembanad Lake and help local communities to identify and intervene in pollution related issues. Through the transfer of technical knowledge, the program enhances the capacity of the local community to monitor their water resources.
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