Asserting that climate change, new agricultural practices and change in lifestyles of people have led to water shortage in the state, the minister informed the House that 'Jala Suraksha' scheme would be implemented at Assembly constituency level with the co-operation of local bodies and NGOs.

The scheme envisages on adoption of scientific methods to protect existing water resources and promote programmes to check pollution, conservation of forests and soil, rainwater harvesting and groundwater replenishment, Premachandran said.

An action calendar would be prepared after mapping of water resources in the state. Protective measures would then be taken up on a priority basis, he said adding a state-level committee, headed by the Chief Minister, would look into the implementation of the scheme.

There would be a co-ordinating machinery, presided by the Chief Secretary, with officials from the departments of Forests, Agriculture, Local Self-Governance and Revenue as its members.

Executive committees would be constituted in all Assembly constituencies with MLAs as chairpersons and representatives of local bodies as members, the Minister said.

The cost of the project would be borne by the government, local self governments and the people, he added.