At a time when all-out efforts are being made to revive and preserve even long forgotten waterbodies to tide over a drought-like situation, Muvattupuzha river, a lifeline offering water to lakhs of people, is being subjected to relentless abuse through dumping of pollutants.
One of the worst affected stretches of the river is the 8-odd kilometres where it passes through Piravom municipality
Despite being the source of four major drinking water projects - Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission project, Japan drinking water project and, Kakkad and Veliyannur drinking water projects – catering to over 10 lakh people in central Kerala, this stretch of the river, local residents call it Piravom Puzha, is dumped with all kinds of waste, including abattoir waste.
With the situation getting worse by the day, a campaign, Save Piravom Puzha, spearheaded by municipal councillor and education standing committee chairman Gils Periappuram and Piravom Swimmers, an aquatic club led by its coach James Onassery, was launched about a fortnight back. The volunteers undertook a day-long cleaning drive in the river, ending up with a rather big country boat full of waste.
“A certain portion of the waste was collected by an NGO called Planet Earth while the rest remain dumped along the river bank. We had approached Suchitwa Mission to clean it up but were asked to segregate the waste and hand over the plastic waste after cleaning it, which was not practical for us,” said Mr. Periappuram.
‘Cumbersome process’
Piravom municipal chairman Sabu K. Jacob said involving Suchitwa Mission was a cumbersome process as they had to get clearance from the State-level committee before initiating action, which might take longer. The municipality had even raised the issue at the last meeting of the district development committee.
Meanwhile, the campaign seems to have gathered momentum as more voluntary organisations are coming forward to be part of it. Janamaithri police and student police cadets are expected to join the drive soon.
A meeting of abattoir and chicken stall operators and caterers has been scheduled for February 16 to create awareness on the need to protect the river.
“What we need is permanent system, including patrolling along the river in frequent intervals, in coordination with all local bodies concerned to address the crisis,” Mr. Periappuram said.
