KOZHIKODE: “If Iruvanji is for the Arabian Sea...’’ says a love-struck Moideen to Kanchanamala, ‘‘...Kanchana is for Moideen.’’
This romantic punch dialogue had many a Romeo-Juliet heart across the state in a leap, and proved to be one of the defining moments of the narrative stream of the movie, ‘’Ennu Ninte Moideen.’’
In its real avatar, however, Iruvanji River mirrors some unromantic realities that threaten its very existence. So do Kallayi. So do Mampuzha. While the rivers in the district run into deep trouble, there are only a few rays of hope,like the collectives of local people who are genuinely worried.Iruvanji, a major tributary of river Chaliyar, meanders through Anakkampoyil, Thiruvambady, Mukkam, Kodiyathur, Chennamangallur and Cheruvadi. One of its tributaries, the Chalippuzha river, homes the Thusharagiri waterfalls. Damodaran Kozhenchery, secretary of the Iruvanji River Protection Samithi says that waste dumping and senseless sand mining augur death for the river.
“The 30-km river feeds various potable water projects. Waste dumping is rampant, especially from many slaughter houses. Recently, septic tank waste was discharged into the river. This is the water we drink! And nobody bothers!” he laments.
Banking on tourism
The restoration plan of the 14-km Mampuzha river was chalked out a long time ago. Much water has flowed under the bridge and many stories were published about the condition of the river, but concrete steps are yet to be taken.
“A survey was initiated but soon fell by the wayside. Encroachments on the banks of the river are yet to be evicted. Water hyacinths too pose a threat,” says T K Azeez, secretary of the Mampuzha Samrakshana Samithi. Azeez said the samithi would take coordinated steps with the grama panchayats to check the pollution. The recent government move seeking a report from DTPC on the tourism potential of the river by developing a waterway has rekindled hopes of river restoration.
A far cry from the past
Despite its well-known tryst with history, Kallayi river is now a pale shadow of that bygone glory. Faisal Pallikandy, secretary of the Kallayi River Protection Samithi, presents a shocking picture of the river. ‘‘There are many encroachments on the 40-km river in the guise of timber trade. Many encroachments on the ‘Poramboke’ land were carried out by tampering with survey numbers. They were evicted in 2007, but now they are back,’’ he said.
The sad thing is that the Revenue authorities are complicit in the matter,” Faisal says. “In many areas, the river has shrunken from the original 300 metre to 50 metre. If the river shrinks at this pace, a calamity is awaiting the district, one similar to what happened in Chennai,” he says.