ALAPPUZHA: Three data collection centres of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), which had drafted the report of the Pampa-Achenkoil-Vaipar Link (PAVL) Project for diverting the waters of the Achencoil and the Pampa to the Vaipar in Tamil Nadu, function in the reserve forests of the State despite the State Government asserting that it would thwart any move to implement the scheme.

The collection centres, called gauging and discharging stations, are situated at Tura, Thekkumthode and Valayam in the reserve forests. The stations collect data on the daily discharge of water through the Achencoil and the Pampa, across which Tamil Nadu had proposed to construct reservoirs to divert water. The NWDA is likely to use the collected data for preparing a detailed project report.

The station at Tura, situated on the Achenkoil, is hardly 50 metres from the Achencoil forest station. Instruments for measuring the water level and speed of flow have been installed on the river. The station at Thekkumthode is situated five km from Thekkumthode junction in the Pampa-Kallar river. The Valayam station is situated on the Achencoil-Kallar river. The NWDA has engaged workers to record the data. All the stations have been functioning since 1990.

A Government Order is mandatory for conducting studies in the reserve forest areas of the State, and the Forest Department can take action against those not approved by the Government.

There had been incidents of the Forest Department taking action against the Kerala State Electricity Board for conducting studies in the forests at Pathrakkadavu and conducting drilling at Athirappally. But in the case of NWDA stations, no such action has been taken despite the Government declaring that it is against the PAVL Project and related studies. The department cannot feign ignorance in the issue as the NWDA stations work close to its offices.

While the Government had pointed out that there were discrepancies in the water balance study conducted by the NWDA on the basis of which it argued that the State had excess water, the present activities might arm the NWDA with the latest data, which it may use for pressuring the State Government to agree to implement the project.

Further, the NWDA may get the latest data collected by it validated by Central agencies, which include the Survey of India and the Central Water Commission.

The NWDA offices had conducted surveys in the Pampa and Achencoil rivers and had proposed dams at Punnamedu, Achencoil-Kallar and Achencoil for diverting water from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. They had also conducted a grid survey for construction of a powerhouse and published a feasibility report of the project in 1995.

The surveys of the NWDA went on in the State in the past even as successive governments aired its opposition in public.

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