The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has ensured police protection for its 15 check-dams and regulators in the Bharathapuzha river basin in drought-hit Chittur taluk in Palakkad district, a first in the State. The move is to avoid plunder and misuse of drinking water, which is turning scarce by the day.
As demanded by the KWA, District Collector P. Marykutty issued a directive to the police to guard the check-dams and regulators spread across the eastern region of Palakkad, including Kunnangattupathy, Puzhappalam, Kodumbu, Kannadi, Njavalinkadavu, and Tharur.
Despite the dip in groundwater level and drying up of the Bharathapuzha, brick kilns and large plantations are siphoning off water from the facilities, especially at night. The police will guard the waterbodies round the clock.
The district administration is on alert and has conducted raids on brick kilns and took firm action against those diverting drinking water for irrigation purposes.
“We have sought police protection on the basis of intelligence reports. The Kodumbu storage can meet water needs of only a month. In areas such as Vadakarapathy, illegal borewells have aggravated the situation,” KWA executive engineer R. Jayachandran said.
Experts say the drought may trigger disputes over water in Chittur taluk, if summer rain fails to bring any relief. Even tanker lorries are finding it difficult to source water to meet the demand in the affected areas.
In many areas, disputes have erupted between villages over the share of water. The KWA is storing water by closing down shutters of check-dams and constructing temporary ones. The Kunnamattupathi regulator is the lone source of water for the rain shadow areas of the district such as Vadakarapathy, Eruthenpathy, Kozhinjampara, Perumatty, and Pattancherry.
The Aryapallam and Puzhappalam check-dams just about meet the water needs of Chittur-Thathamangalm municipality, and Koduvayur, Pudunagaram, and Peruvembu grama panchayats.
