Kerala - Kozhikode   

Threat to Kallayi river continues

Staff Reporter

Heavy sedimentation stops flow of saltwater into river

FINDING FACTS: Chief Conservator of Forest R.R. Shukla visiting the bank of Kallayi river in Kozhikode on Wednesday.

KOZHIKODE: Due to heavy sedimentation saltwater does not flow into the Kallayi river during high tide, any more. The river has receded to such an extent that at certain portions the banks provide playing ground for children in the vicinity.

The river is a virtual dumping ground of the city's garbage. Encroachments of the banks are most evident along the Moorad bridge to the Kothi estuary. People on the banks of the river are under threat of floods, as rainwater would not flow out to the sea through the river because of encroachments of the banks.

This is the scenario that surrounds the Kallayi the lifeline of Kozhikode city. Environmental activists have been crying hoarse on the widespread degradation of the river, but to no avail.

The threat to an already dying river is so grim that the Kallayipuzha Samrakshana Samithi has warned that if the authorities concerned do not act urgently to implement the relevant provisions of the law relating to the protection of rivers, and conservation of the riverbanks a concerted movement would be launched.

According to Faizal Pallikkandi, general secretary of the samithi, conservation of the Kallayi was vital to prevent floods in Kozhikode city, and the river along with the Elathur river needed to be conserved and banks kept free of constructions.

"We want implementation of the stipulations of the law on a war footing. The unauthorised reclamation of the river and constructions on the riverbanks are put up on revenue land. It is up to the authorities to ensure that this land is taken back. Such efforts are vital to prevent the further degradation of the Kallayi even at a stage when a good part of the banks on either side have been encroached upon by private parties,'' he said.

Mr. Pallikkandi alleged that a large extent of the more than 100 acres on either side of the riverbanks had been encroached.

Those who have taken the land on a 99-year lease to put up saw mills and conduct timber business continued to occupy the space though the timber business has been long been wound up.

In place of the mills that have been demolished new constructions have come up. The land has been given on lease, and it was up to the authorities concerned to invoke the provisions of the relevant law to reclaim the site.

Through concocted land deeds efforts were on to legalise the occupancy.

The Friday Club on the banks of the Kallayi it was alleged had in its possession 30 cents of unauthorised land.

It was alleged that encroachment of the river has been going on since the last 10 years and no official measures were taken to arrest the trend.

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