In continuation of the first phase mass drive to revive the defunct Kanampuzha river that has been filled with garbage, preparations are under way to prepare a people’s master plan for the restoration of the river system.
In the first phase, a cleaning drive was conducted on May 14 in which over 5,000 people participated. The next phase of the river revival campaign included in the Kannur Assembly constituency development programme of Ports Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally envisages the watershed development of those areas.
“Eight river protection vigil committees have been constituted and they will start the work on preparing the master plan with the help of expert agencies,” said P.P. Babu Karakkatt, coordinator of the river revival mission. The works planned include protection of Ayyappanmala, the origin of the river, restoration of agricultural areas of Elayavur and Chelora here, total removal of waste from the downstream of the river from Thazhechovva to Kuruva bridge by dredging, and development of ecotourism at Adikadalayi, its estuary, among others, he said adding that all small streams to the river would also be revived.
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The master plan draft would be discussed with agencies, including the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, Centre for Earth Science Studies, Water Resources Department, Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Centre for Water Resource Development and Management, Land Use Board, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, and Departments of Culture and of Tourism before it was submitted to the government in August or September, he said.
Mr. Karakkatt said that on World Environment Day on June 5, 5,000 saplings would be planted along the stretches of the river banks with the participation of families inhabiting along the banks. The tree planting programmes would be held in eight locations under the aegis of respective river protection vigil committees.