KOCHI: Periyar, the perennial river, is facing obstructions at 621 locations in Ernakulam district alone. The obstructions are in the form of silt and waste accumulated naturally and those that are manmade. Of these, 404 locations are in tributaries and the rest in river.
The locations in tributaries like canals and streams leading to the river and along the river have been identified in a report prepared by the minor irrigation department was submitted to the state government on Monday.
The 1,400-page report in three volumes, details about the obstructions –– whether they are industrial waste or household waste or silt, their height, approximate quantity, longitude and latitude, where it is accumulated and under which local body the area comes and other facts.
Since most of the obstructions are due to silt accumulation, the district administration will launch ‘Operation Vahini’ by February 20 to clear the sedimentation and waste.
“A three-tier system, committees at district, block and local body levels have been formed to monitor the clearing work. We have also asked the irrigation department to prepare estimate of the work at each location and submit it to panchayats. The local bodies can do the work under MGNREGS. Only silt and debris can be removed. No sand mining will be allowed under the guise of this work,” said district collector Jafar Malik.
If local bodies refuse to remove silt or waste citing financial issues, the district disaster management authority will direct the local body secretaries under Disaster Management Act to remove the debris to avoid flooding.
The silt removed can be auctioned by the local body. Participation of volunteers and public will also be sought for the cleaning activities so also financial support under CSR funds. The district administration hopes to complete 80% of the work by mid-May, well before the arrival of monsoon. As many as 129 locations along PWD and local body roads near Periyar have also been identified for silt and waste clearing activities. These roads usually face waterlogging due to drainage issues.
Except coastal local bodies, almost all local bodies where obstructions have been identified are situated on the banks of the river.
While the irrigation department report has identified obstructions in around 100-150 locations in Muvattupuzha river, obstructions were also identified along 264.7km stretch of Periyar flowing in Idukki and Ernakulam districts. Of these 34 locations are in the river.
“We have to control the disposal of waste including industrial one in the river and tributaries,” said an irrigation official. The local bodies along Periyar had faced nature’s fury in the floods of 2018.
