KOCHI: With the increasing number of incidents of river bank erosion, the people living on the banks of the river Periyar are a concerned lot. On Monday, the Periyar changed its course along a stretch at Muttar resulting in river bank erosion.
The three families who were affected by the last day’s incident are at a loss as they do not know what to do. Amanankuzhiyil Rajesh of Amanakkuzhi, his wife Ambika and their children Amal and Appu, Rosy, a widow, and Sukumaran, his wife Vasumathi and daughter Sreelakshmi have been residing there for about a decade-and-a-half.
The authorities shifted them to Kunnumpuram School as there was a chance of the river eroding again. But they had to vacate the rehabilitation centre as there is hardly any amenities there. “As there is no facility we have decided to stay in our neighbour’s house,” one of them said. These landless families have been living on the government land on the banks of the Periyar in Muttar for years. As the river bank eroded, Rajesh’s family lost their clothes and utensils placed in the courtyard of their hut. Weeds coupled with silt have formed a small island near the Muttar river blocking the free flow of the river.
River Muttar, a tributary of the Periyar, is covered with water hyacinth. “Fortunately, the erosion happened during day time. It if had happened during the night, nobody would have been there to rescue us,” Rajesh said.
“The authorities are not concerned about these people. They could have taken measures to remove the silt and weeds,” said Unnikrishnan, a local who was involved in the rescue work.
