07-05-2025
‘CWRDM can take up environmental impact studies of river valley projects'
The Kozhikode-based Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), an autonomous research institution under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE), will now be able to conduct independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for hydroelectric and irrigation projects. This follows the accreditation of the agency by the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET).
According to CWRDM officials, the agency is the only one specifically accredited for river valley projects. So far, external private agencies had been roped in for the purpose. 'EIA is basically for reflecting the concerns of the people in an area where a proposed project is coming up. Being a government agency with over 40 years of experience in water-related research, we will be able to bring more credibility to the study,' a senior official said on Wednesday (May 7, 2025). The agency would now be able to evaluate the environmental concerns associated with large-scale water infrastructure projects, ensuring ecological balance while meeting developmental needs, the official added.
The CWRDM has also become one of the five institutions in Kerala that can carry out EIA studies. Manoj P. Samuel, executive director of CWRDM, said that the NABET accreditation was a recognition of the agency's scientific integrity and technical capability. 'We can now formally contribute to safeguarding environmental concerns through EIA studies for various government projects across Kerala and other States,' he added. The CWRDM officials also claimed that the efforts would be to integrate environmental sensitivity into Kerala's water resource planning and management, at a time when the State is witnessing rapid infrastructure development and climate-related challenges.
A release quoting A. Sabu, member secretary, KSCSTE, said that the accreditation was a significant milestone not just for CWRDM, but for Kerala as well. 'It empowers us to ensure that the growing water infrastructure projects are aligned with environmental sustainability. The CWRDM's legacy in water research and public service strengthens the state's capacity for data-driven, environmentally conscious development,' he added.
