A few months ago, the Department of Irrigation came up with a project for the protection of the Kallai river, the lifeline of Kozhikode city. The project, which received massive publicity then, is yet to take off. The State government’s decision not to continue any projects that weren’t on for at least two years has stalled attempts to protect the river, which is dying a slow death, choked by garbage as well as encroachment on the banks.
The Kallai River Protection Committee, which has been fighting for the river’s protection for over 20 years, held a dharna near the Kallai bridge on Friday demanding that the project be taken up immediately to prevent further damage to the river.
MemorandumThe committee drew up a memorandum that would soon be presented to the Ministers for Irrigation and Revenue. “We knocked many doors to press the issue, but in vain. We will try to convince the authorities,” said T.V. Kunjayin Koya, secretary of the committee.
In 2010-11, the State government set apart Rs.3.5 crore for the protection of the river. When the party who secured the tender pointed out that it was not enough, the fund was raised to Rs.4.1 crore. Finally when the file was passed, the allocation was increased to Rs.4.9 crore. Yet, the project did not take off. The committee’s demand is not just to clean the river that is highly polluted, but also to re-survey it to rid it of encroachments.
“Kallai was once a prime centre for the timber industry, which died off as timber is not readily available any more. But some individuals, on the pretext of the industry, are encroaching on the river,” Mr. Koya said. The committee also wants a river wall and a walkway that would serve as a bike route from Kaduppini to Kallai.
“The mangrove forest by the river has great tourism potential that need to be explored,” he added.
