The ever-rising threat of salinity in Periyar, a prime source of freshwater for the Ernakulam district, will become a thing of past with the authorities set to regulate water flow through its lone major outlet to the sea.
The long-pending demand for a permanent regulator-cum-bridge across the river at Purappallykkavu near North Paravur is finally set to materialise with the Major Irrigation Department slated to commence works on the system on April 19. The 305-meter regulator with 28 spans will be completed in two years. “The project is being taken up in view of the salinity levels often posing a threat to the drinking water supply to Kochi and its neighbouring areas, especially during summer. In the absence of a bund, the chances of high tides from the sea reaching upstream causing a sharp surge in salinity are high, often affecting the production levels at the Kerala Water Authority plant at Aluva,” said M. Sivanandan, executive engineer.
According to the official, the construction of temporary bunds at the site in each year has become a tedious task over the years owing to a sharp reduction in the availability of quality sand. “Besides, the option of managing salinity levels by regulating water flow from the Bhoothathankettu dam on the upstream is not a feasible option as a sudden let-out may also lead to a manifold increase in the volume of silt and debris,” he added.
The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs.100 crore, of which, the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development will be contributing Rs. 62 crore.
Meanwhile, the department is in the final stages of setting up a bund across the river at Pathalam, which is slated for inauguration in June. “The works of all the 12 shutters and the bridge have been completed and the only work left is the construction of approach roads from both its sides’’, officials said.
The project envisages a two-lane bridge of 7.50 meter each and a regulator at a length of 185 meters. The authorities have already established a bund across the river at Manjummal near Eloor.
