Threat to Chalakudy river, Athirapally waterfall

By G. Prabhakaran

PALAKKAD, AUG. 20.The proposed Kuriyarkutty-Karappara multi- purpose project in the Parambikulam-Nelliampathy forest area of Palakkad, for which the Central Government has denied permission for the fifth time, is feared to destroy the Athirapally waterfall and the Chalakudy river.

The Union Ministry for Environment and Forest in a letter to the State Government on March 16 last had denied permission to the project as it would destroy 76.094 hectares of forest and 764.972 hectares of estate area in Nelliampathy, which is legally `forest' attracting the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

According to the Society for Conservation of Nature, Thrissur, the project will "destroy the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, the Chalakudy river that originates from the sanctuary, the Chalakudy Irrigation and Drinking Water Schemes and the Athirapally Waterfall in the Chalakudy river where a hydel project is taken up".

According to the secretary of the society, Mr. V.P. Ajith, the Irrigation Department envisages the Kuriyarkutty-Karappara project to provide irrigation facilities to two predominantly drought hit areas of Palakkad district, Kozhinjampara and Muthalamada panchayats in Chittur taluk. "But the 7,250 million cubic feet (mcft) of water available at Moolathara regulator as per the inter-State Parambikulam Aliyar Project Agreement between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is intended to irrigate 14,500 hectares in Chittur under the Chitturpuzha Irrigation Project," he says.

The proposal is "to divert this water to irrigate an additional area of 7,701 hectares in Kozhinjampara farka by extending and improving the Moolathara Right Bank Canal of the Chitturpuzha Project. The Right Bank Main Canal thus crosses Korayar and Varattayar and extends up to Velanthavalam covering a good portion of Kozhinjampara. Corresponding to this area of 7,701 hectares the lower ayacut of Chitturpuzha Left Bank Main Canal is proposed to be irrigated by the water available from Kuriyarkutty-Karappara Reservoirs".

The scheme as such envisages construction of three reservoirs across Karappara, Pulikkal and Kuriyarkutty rivers, forming tributaries of the Chalakudy river, to impound a total storage of 9.5 mcft of water. This involves an inter-basin transfer of water from Chalakudy to Bharathapuzha. This is made possible by the construction of a tunnel across the Nelliampathy hills to divert water from the last of the series of reservoirs of Kuriyarkutty to Cheppakad in the Muthalamada area.

The total additional area that can be irrigated by this project is 11,736 hectares, besides generation of power in three stages, the Irrigation Department claims. The cost of the irrigation part is estimated to be over Rs. 120 crores including the share debit towards the cost of reservoirs to be built by the Kerala State Electricity Board.

When the Central Government did not give clearance to the project, an alternative scheme has been proposed. This envisages the construction of two diversion weirs at Sithargundu, Karappara dam (as it is), Kuriyarkutty weir (instead of a dam) and appurtenant works. In this new proposal, the construction of the dam across Pulikalar is completely omitted, according to the Irrigation Department.

The Society for Conservation of Nature in its memorandums to the Union Minister for Environment and Forest and the Chief Minister says: "The diversion of the Karapara river from the already depleted Chalakudy river would cause acute water shortage in the Chalakudy plains. Paddy fields of 11,147 hectares at present irrigated by 260 km-long canals of Thumburmuzhi diversion scheme in two taluks by the Chalakudy Irrigation Project constructed in 1950s will go waste. Even if paddy production in Chittur taluk goes up, it will be more than offset by the loss of Chalakudy."

Lakhs of people of Chalakudy and Kodungallur taluks depend upon this river for drinking water. Due to the diversion of water there is already a paucity of water in summer months. Any further reduction of water flow in the river would cause an acute drinking water shortage. Further, salinity is creeping upstream every year. Should any reduction in water flow occur during summer months, the salinity will spread to upstream areas making even well water unportable. The damage to agriculture will be extensive.

The Kuriyarkutty-Karappara project would also "destroy a major tourist attraction--the magnificent Athirapally waterfall-- where a major hydel project is also being taken up by the Kerala Government".

The memorandum said that "the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary has been acclaimed as one of the finest in India. It is home to one of the largest Gaur population as well as endangered creatures like Lion-tailed macaques, tiger, Great Indian hornbill and Masheer. The Chalakudy river originates from Prambikulam and here three reservoirs were constructed by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1960s submerging 25 sq. km of lush forests. The water from these reservoirs is used by Tamil Nadu and a part of the tail waters is diverted to Palakkad district for irrigation".

The Kuriyarkutty-Karappara project is to enhance paddy production in the southern area of Chittur taluk. "It would be interesting to note that there are two reservoirs already on the northern slops of Nelliampathy hills, Pothundy and Chulliyar, to cater to the needs of farmers of Chittur taluk but extensive silting has made them practically useless. The proposed Karappara reservoir also will meet the same fate and will not last for even a fraction of its expected life span," the memorandum said.

Further, there will be serious environmental problems. The upper reaches of the Chalakudy river is renowned for its Masheer - Tor Khudree (sykes). The Karapara river, which has no reservoirs, is an important spawning area for them. The proposed reservoir will have negative effect on their breeding and survival. It will also adversely affect the animal migration in the sanctuary area. Construction activities would cause grave problems for the wildlife in the sanctuary, according to the society.

The Kerala Forest Research Institute which conducted studies about the impact of the proposed project in a report states that it is misconceived and, if implemented, would cause irreparable damage to the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thus, the project is economically unviable and ecologically disastrous. It is conceived for the benefit of timber and construction lobbies alone, the memorandum alleged.

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