The much-anticipated Bharathapuzha Revival Mission initiated by the Rural Development Department will begin in November.
The Rs.76.77-crore project with Central government assistance is expected to offer a new lease of life for the river, which turns into almost a trickle during the summer months and has flash floods during the monsoon, and its watershed areas.
Talking to media persons here, Rural Development Commissioner K. Mohan Kumar said a formal inauguration of the project would be held on August 2 in Palakkad. Minister K.C. Joseph will declare open the mission.
Mr. Kumar said Rajasthan’s celebrated ‘waterman’ Rajendra Singh, who revived seven rivers in his home State, would monitor the process to be implemented in the Bharathapuzha basin spread over Palakkad, Thrissur and Malappuram districts.
“The Union government will meet 75 per cent of the expense and the rest will be borne by the Rural Development Department, which is keen on initiating the conservation activities with the active involvement of the local communities. Experts will travel across the river before finalising the project next month and implementing it from November. The local body representatives will be involved in the implementation and monitoring of the project,” he said.
Encroachments
Replying to questions, Mr. Kumar said there would be efforts to remove encroachments on the river. “The revival mission will be implemented by focussing on block panchayats through which the river and its tributaries pass. Encroachments on the river will be cleared and steps will be taken to prevent discharge of industrial and chemical waste into the river. Garbage dumping will be prevented. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will be utilised to strengthen the banks of the river and to prevent soil erosion. The departments of Agriculture, Water Resources, Forest, Soil Conservation, Ground Water, and Revenue will be involved in various conservation initiatives,” he said.
A major portion of the revival efforts would be concentrated on strengthening the watershed areas of the river, which were facing constant encroachment threat.
Efforts to replenish groundwater level would be undertaken as its depletion constituted a major threat to the river, he said.
Centre to meet 75 per cent of expense
River banks to be strengthened
Rajendra Singh who revived 7 rivers in Rajasthan to monitor implementation.
