A cry for rejuvenating the Varattar, a tributary of the Pampa, is all set to gain public attention in the days ahead.
A people’s movement has taken shape to revive the dying river, with dreams of returning to a lush green environment along the course of the river.
The Varattar has its origin at Puthukkulangara, between Idanadu and Mangalam, on the route of the Pampa.
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The river flows through places such as Eraviperoor, Thiruvanvandoor and Chengannuur, reaching Iramallikkara to touch the Manimala river.
Over the years, the river has been reduced to a trickle along its course, spread across Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, thanks to relentless sand-mining and large-scale encroachment.
“The river’s death has led to acute water scarcity in about 20 sq km in and around Chengannur. It used to be a natural flood control system whenever the Pampa and the Manimala rivers were in spate,” says N.K. Sukumaran Nair, head of the Pampa Parirakshana Samithy, an environmental organisation, which has been conducting several awareness campaigns on river protection and green living.
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“The threat of annihilation of the Varattar portends danger to the Pampa as well,” says Mr. Nair.
“The depth of the Pampa at the origin of the Varattar has increased by 5-7 metres owing to unscrupulous sand mining in the former, resulting in cessation of water flow into the latter. The ground level in the Varattar rose owing to accumulation of silt. The motionless river was encroached upon. Today, the river has become a skeleton, with pools of water remaining here and there.”
The severe drought perhaps was lending a new direction to the efforts to resuscitate the river, he added.
Dried-up canals
Several canals linked to the river have dried up, resulting in cessation of irrigation facility to paddy fields in places such as Koipram, Idanadu and Othara. The river used to be the lifeline for country boats carrying cargo as well as palliyodams, the snake-boats taking part in the Aranmula boat race, till a few decades ago.
“The sugar factory at Pulikkeezhu thrived at a time when sugarcane used to be transported through the river. Pools of stagnated polluted water is all what remains of the river in most parts,” says Praveen, a resident of the area, affected by scarcity of potable water.
Pampa Action Plan
The Pampa Action Plan, aimed at abatement of pollution of river Pampa, formulated in 2003 as a Centre-State project, with an outlay of ₹18.45 crore under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), has envisaged protection of tributaries as well. But the plan needs a detailed project report to be approved by the Centre. Major works under the plan remain non-executed.
It is against this background that an initiative of local self-governments such as Thiruvanvandoor, Eraviperoor, and Kuttoor grama panchayats and Chengannur municipal authorities have joined hands to revive the river.
Walk across river
A ‘puzha nadatham,’ a walk across the course of the river, will be taken out by the people, led by three Ministers and scores of people’s representatives on May 29. K.K. Ramachandran Nair, Chengannur MLA, will take a pilot tour of the area on May 26, according to John M. Thomas, chairman of the Chengannur municipal council.
Detailed plans will be chalked out after the mass campaign, Thiruvanvandoor panchayat president Jalaja says.