PALAKKAD: Scorching summer is yet to peak. But Bharathapuzha, the lifeline for lakhs of people, is a travesty of its past. The unprecedented drying up of the river has affected many villages in Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur districts, which depend on it for potable water.
The importance of conserving this river could be gauged from the fact that it provides potable water to people in 175 panchayats and eight municipalities in the three districts.
Now, the only source of water for the locals in the region is the check dams built across the river by the panchayats. Even as the jury is out on whether check dams should be constructed across Bharathapuzha as it will result in the stagnation of water and prevent the lower reaches from getting water, the local bodies are now competing with each other to construct check dams.
One striking feature this year is the advent of voluntary private participation in the construction of check dams in association with the local panchayats.
“Wooden shutters of Sathramkadavu check dam, which connects Kottayi and Mankara panchayats, have been replaced with iron shutters,” says Siddique Ahmed, chairman of the UAE-based Eram Group. The assistant engineer of the panchayat had drawn up an estimate and submitted it to the Eram Group.
“The estimate was calculated for replacing the existing shutters with new wooden ones. But as wood tends to wear off when it stands soaked in water, it was decided to replace the shutters with iron ones,” he said.
“Further upstream, half of the work on the check dam at Kannamkadavu has been completed.
But for the time-being, it has been decided to complete the remaining portion by stacking up mud bags.
This is to enable water conservation in this check dam to ensure drinking water in the Lakkidi-Perur, Mankara, Peringottukurissy, Mannur and Mathur panchayats,” says Siddique. “We associate with the local bodies only for clearances and we involve the locals in the construction work so that there is a sense of belonging,” he says.
Sainudheen Pathripala, co-ordinator of the scheme, says, “further upstream is the Njavalinkadavu check dam at Athirakad that also connects Kottayi and Mankara panchayats. This check dam provides drinking water to many panchayats.
“Our next project is at Muttikadavu in Thenur. With the completion of this project, the people living on a 22-km stretch on either side the Bharathapuzha will have their wells recharged.”