more-in The proposed Water Metro project grew further in scope following Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s (KMRL) decision to embark on a Save Vembanad Lake campaign alongside it. While it may take another year or two for Water Metro to get going, the campaign may get kick-started as early as next month as the KMRL is gearing up to consult stakeholders to fine-tune it. KMRL Managing Director Elias George announced the move on the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the KMRL and the Greater Cochin Development Authority for the development of a boat jetty, marina and allied amenities of global standards near Marine Drive as part of the Water Metro project here on Wednesday. He said the Kochi backwaters, which is part of Vembanad Lake, had now been turned into a big waste bin dotted with floating plastic islands. “Vembanad Lake is Kerala’s biggest asset and the KMRL plans to launch a Save Vembanad Lake campaign alongside Water Metro. Our role will be that of a facilitator coordinating the local bodies dotting the Vembanad Lake as we aim at bringing aboard the technical assistance and expertise of our funding agencies to find a lasting solution to problems such as water hyacinths and waste dumping,” Mr. George said. The KMRL’s move offers a common platform for various ongoing small initiatives aimed at the conservation of the lake. The metro agency will play the role of a coordinator in such initiatives being run by environmental activists, and various NGOs. Running awareness campaigns, including in schools and other educational institutions, will be a major component of the campaign. The KMRL’s intervention is expected to bring in much needed international expertise and funding sources to the critical campaign through French and German funding agencies associated with Kochi Metro. It hopes to tap the expertise of Germany, which has to its credit some very successful models in such campaigns, through one of its funding agencies, German development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

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