The story of depletion of flowing water in God’s own country is a classic example of excess water everywhere five decades ago , due to poor water planning caused water water no where. Kerala used to have an average 5 lakh million cubic meters of fresh water from its 44 rivulets and 19 lakes. Kerala has 44 rivers, 41 flowing westward and 3 flowing eastward cut across Kerala with their innumerable territories and branches. Periyar (244 Kms), Bharatapuzha (209 Kms) Pamba (176 Kms), Chaliyar (169), Kadaundi and Chalakudi (130), Achenkoil (128), Kalada and Muvathupuzha (121) etc are some of the important rivers that dot the Kerala landscape, flowing westwards. The three eastward flowing rivers are: Pambar, Bhawani and Kabani
[Quiet flows the Bharathapuzha, the Second largest river in Kerala with a length of 209 Kms. The river originates in Annamalai hills located in the Western Ghats. It flows in the western direction. The water has high mineral content. It is closely connected with Kathakali, the renowned dance form of Kerala. The Bharathapuzha is the backbone of Kerala.]
Kerala was the land of abundant water. It had ample rainfall. But this is old fable. Today, its per capita usage of Water is worst than that of Rajasthan! It occupies the 20th place amongst the States in India in the per capita usage of Water.
The Government of Kerala suggested that Rs 675 Cr hydro electric project be planned along Chalakudy-Anamalai inter state highway (Vazhachal forest division), a dam 23 m high and 311 m wide so that the Athirapally water falls be utilized for the dam projected as a peak load station expected to produce 163 MW. However, the Ministry of Environment & Forests,Govt of India refused it permission and clearance as the riparian ecosystem would affect 138.6 hectares of forest land, fish sanctuary, habitat of rarest and highly endangered species of birds and animals. It is a right decision taken to save the ecofragile ecosystem.
But Kerala needs development. It requires drinking water. A land of rivers and plenty of water, yet low per capita consumption per person during summer is a horrid tale. Some things need to be done. Something must be done.
Even this year’s monsoon which saw torrential rain and shortage of water during the summer which preceded it has seen the rainwater flow away towards the sea. The Water Authority sit on pins and needles during summer to get water projects that have Bharathapuzha as the source. To conserve water and save the endangered river from going dry when the heat rises, proposals have been made to construct permanent and temporary check dams across the river and its tributaries. But only four of these have been completed and another two are under construction in Shoranur and Ottapalam. Water from Bharathapuzha is supplied to nearly 170 grama panchayats on the banks of the river in Palakkad, Malapuram and Trichur districts.
Much of the water that is available in Kerala is washed down to the Arabian Sea owing to the lack of proper storage and distribution facilities. Most of the Schemes to cover the drinking water problem only exist only on paper. Rs 560 Cr Bharathapuzha action plan submitted to the State Government five years ago is in cold storage. The Plan envisages a Bharathapuzha Basin AUTHORITY, construct 453 check dams across the river and its four main tributaries at an estimated cost of Rs 157.5 Cr; 30 across Chitturpuzha; 60 across the Gyathripuzha; 10 across the Kalpathypuzha and 50 each across the Thoothapuzha and Kunthipuzha. Another 600 check dams have been suggested across the major stream of the Bharathapuzha. The Plan proposes setting up of 11 regulators at a cost of Rs 137.5 Cr. It is estimated that 4,000 million cubic meters of water flows from the Bharathapuzha a year and the quantity stored in all seven reservoirs on the basin is less than 10% of the wastage. The Report submitted in June 1997 calls for an autonomous river management authority with wide powers to manage various aspects related to the river system and its basin. No ecological damage, no submerging of riparian forest, no destruction of habitat of highly endangered species.
[Quiet flows the Bharathapuzha, the Second largest river in Kerala with a length of 209 Kms. The river originates in Annamalai hills located in the Western Ghats. It flows in the western direction. The water has high mineral content. It is closely connected with Kathakali, the renowned dance form of Kerala. The Bharathapuzha is the backbone of Kerala.]
Kerala was the land of abundant water. It had ample rainfall. But this is old fable. Today, its per capita usage of Water is worst than that of Rajasthan! It occupies the 20th place amongst the States in India in the per capita usage of Water.
The Government of Kerala suggested that Rs 675 Cr hydro electric project be planned along Chalakudy-Anamalai inter state highway (Vazhachal forest division), a dam 23 m high and 311 m wide so that the Athirapally water falls be utilized for the dam projected as a peak load station expected to produce 163 MW. However, the Ministry of Environment & Forests,Govt of India refused it permission and clearance as the riparian ecosystem would affect 138.6 hectares of forest land, fish sanctuary, habitat of rarest and highly endangered species of birds and animals. It is a right decision taken to save the ecofragile ecosystem.
But Kerala needs development. It requires drinking water. A land of rivers and plenty of water, yet low per capita consumption per person during summer is a horrid tale. Some things need to be done. Something must be done.
Even this year’s monsoon which saw torrential rain and shortage of water during the summer which preceded it has seen the rainwater flow away towards the sea. The Water Authority sit on pins and needles during summer to get water projects that have Bharathapuzha as the source. To conserve water and save the endangered river from going dry when the heat rises, proposals have been made to construct permanent and temporary check dams across the river and its tributaries. But only four of these have been completed and another two are under construction in Shoranur and Ottapalam. Water from Bharathapuzha is supplied to nearly 170 grama panchayats on the banks of the river in Palakkad, Malapuram and Trichur districts.
Much of the water that is available in Kerala is washed down to the Arabian Sea owing to the lack of proper storage and distribution facilities. Most of the Schemes to cover the drinking water problem only exist only on paper. Rs 560 Cr Bharathapuzha action plan submitted to the State Government five years ago is in cold storage. The Plan envisages a Bharathapuzha Basin AUTHORITY, construct 453 check dams across the river and its four main tributaries at an estimated cost of Rs 157.5 Cr; 30 across Chitturpuzha; 60 across the Gyathripuzha; 10 across the Kalpathypuzha and 50 each across the Thoothapuzha and Kunthipuzha. Another 600 check dams have been suggested across the major stream of the Bharathapuzha. The Plan proposes setting up of 11 regulators at a cost of Rs 137.5 Cr. It is estimated that 4,000 million cubic meters of water flows from the Bharathapuzha a year and the quantity stored in all seven reservoirs on the basin is less than 10% of the wastage. The Report submitted in June 1997 calls for an autonomous river management authority with wide powers to manage various aspects related to the river system and its basin. No ecological damage, no submerging of riparian forest, no destruction of habitat of highly endangered species.
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