CHALAKUDY RIVER

CHALAKUDY RIVER

SLOW DEATH OF CHALAKUDY RIVER

Chalakudy River or Chalakudy Puzha runs through Chalakudytown which is in the Thrissur District.. It is the 4th longest river in Kerala and its basin is between 10° 05’ to 10° 35’ North latitude and 76° 15’to 76° 55’ East longitude. This area is located in  Thrissur, Ernakulam and Palakkad districts of Kerala. The total drainage area of the river is 1704 km². out of this 1404 km² lies in Kerala and the rest 300 km² in Tamil Nadu. The length of the river is 145.5 km. Chalakudy River is the one of very few rivers of Kerala, which is having relics of riparian vegetation in substantial level. The annual report of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Lucknow, mentioned that the Chalakudy River is the richest river in fish diversity perhaps in IndiaThe riparian forests of the Chalakudy River have revealed the existence of a thick riparian vegetation of more than 10 metres width for a distance of 10.5 km downstream from Peringalkuth, covering an area of 58.5 hectares. Out of this, 26.4 hectares lie within the Vazachal area, including three large islands densely covered by riparian forests.
The riparian forests of the area have been found to be characterised by the presence of typical riparian species of plants, in addition to evergreen and semi-evergreen species.Out of the 319 species of flowering plants identified from the study area, 24 are endemic species of the Western Ghats and 10 are rare and endangered. Moreover, the Chalakudy River is known for its diversity, as it contains 85 species of fresh water fishes out of the 152 species known from Kerala. Among these, 35 are endemic species of the Western Ghats and nine are considered to be endangered.
The river though has its origin in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu, is actually a collection of some major tributaries originated from Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala. The famous waterfalls, Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls, are situated on this river. The famous Hydro Electric Projects on Chalakudy River are 'Sholayar Hydro Electric Project' and 'Peringalkuttu Hydro Electric Project'. For irrigation purposes Thumboormoozhy Dam is constructed across this river. It merges with the Periyar River  near Puthanvelikkara, adjacent to Manjali,  North Paravur in  Ernakulam District. The Parambikulam Dam has been built on the Parambikulam River, one of its four tributaries. According to a report of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, Chalakudy could well be the richest river in fish diversity in India, with thick vegetation on both sides.

The rapidly deteriorating health of the Chalakudy River due to many factors including catchments degradation, heavy sand mining, dams and the threat of further degradation due to new river based development projects was a cause of great concern. Some ecologically sensitive and socially conscious people often shared this concern when they gathered together. Gradually the Chalakudy Puzha Samrakshana Samithi was born in 1986 from this mutually shared concern. Initially, the major activities of the Samithi included carrying out field visits along the various tributaries of the river basin for better understanding of the river basin, sharing the information with the public, campaign against proposed projects like the Athirappilly Hydro Electric Project, Poringalkuthu Right Bank HEPs, the Karappara- Kuriarkutty multipurpose project, the Edamalayar Augmentation scheme etc, which were believed, would further lead to the deterioration of river health. Later the campaigns gathered momentum with more members joining the Samithi.

protect chalakudy river

The 130 km long Chalakudy River the fifth largest river in Kerala drains the runoff from a 1704 sq.km catchment. Its northern tributaries originate from the Nelliampathy hills of Palakkad district in Kerala and its southeastern tributaries originate from the Anamalai Hills of Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu. The major tributaries of the river include the Karappara River originating from the Nelliampathy hills at an elevation of about 1400 m msl, in the northern part of the catchment, flowing towards west later turning south joining the main river at Orukombankooty. The Kuriarkutty Aar originating from the Chamannampathy hills has two tributaries namely Veetiaar and Thekkadiaar. South of Kuriarkutty valley is the Parambikulam plateau located at an elevation of about 500m msl. The Parambikulam Aar (rivulet), Thunacadavu Aar and Peruvarippallam Aar originate from the Parambikulam Plateau. The Thunacadavu and Peruvarippallam Aar after joining meet the Parambikulam Aar and later are joined by the Kuriarkutty Aar flowing from the southwest at a place called Kuriarkutty. From here the river flows in a westerly direction to meet the Sholayar River, (about two kms upstream of Orukombankooty) one of the main tributaries originating from the Anamalai Hills in the east. Out of the total catchment of 1704 sq.km, 300-sq.km lies in Tamil Nadu. A unique characteristic of this river basin is that at least 1200 sq.km catchment area in Kerala is under the control of the Forest Department. Total utilisable yield of the river basin is estimated at 2033 MCum out of which 494 Mcum is expected from Tamil Nadu (Water Resources of Kerala, 1974).

Chalakudy River is unique in its rich fish diversity; at least 104 fish species have been located from this river. The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources based in Lucknow (NBFGR) has recommended the upstream areas of the river to be declared as a ‘fish sanctuary’. Two beautiful waterfalls; Athirappilly and Charpa and a rapid at Vazhachal attract lakhs of tourists from all over the world. This river basin is the only home to a primitive hunter-gatherer tribal group; the ‘Kadar’ their settlements scattered in the forests of the river basin. Five dams constructed in this river during the sixties namely Parambikulam, Thunacadavu, Peruvarippallam, Tamil Nadu Sholayar and Kerala Sholayar are part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP). Except for Kerala Sholayar dam, Tamil Nadu owns all the others. The Poringalkuthu Hydro Electric Project the second HEP in the State commissioned in 1957 and the Chalakudy River Diversion Scheme (CRDS) operating since 1958 both situated in the main Chalakudy River came into existence before PAP became operational. The Chalakudy River has hundreds of lift irrigation schemes and 30 Government operated drinking water supply schemes and a population of about 10 lakh directly dependent on the river for various uses. The upper catchment has a 200 year odd history of deforestation for agricultural and forestry plantations. Dams and inter basin water transfers have added to the degradation. Heavy sand mining, over extraction of water for drinking and irrigation even for other river basins and saline ingress are taking their toll on the river.

Slow death awaits Chalakudy River. Sand mining improper disposal of solid waste affecting river system. Chalakudy river is yearning for a lifeline.Chalakudy river, the fifth largest river in the tte is faced with a series of risks including sand mining, release of untreated effluence from an industrial unit and improper disposal of solid waste. The environmental monitoring programme on water quality of the Chalakudy River Basin carried out by the Kerala state council for science Technology and Environment has brought out the challenges faced by the river.

The river basin covers Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts. The river is home to a large number of fish varieties and studies have identified 104 fish species from it. Considering the fish diversity supported by the river, the National Bureau of Fish Genetics Resources,Luknow,has recommented that the upstream area of the river should be declared as a fish sanctuary,the report says.

  It is estimated that over 10 lakh people directly depend on the river for various needs. Lift irrigation, drinking water schemes and dams have been constructed in the river system. The study has cautioned that’the construction of dams and inters basin water transfers have added to the degradation of the river. Heavy sand mining, over extraction of water for drinking purposes and irrigation and ever for other river basins and saline ingress are taking their toll on the river. Low dissolved oxygen, abnormal colour and offensive odour were reported in the Kanjirapally area of the river bain and this has been attributed ot the discharge of effluents from an industrial unit.

                                                           Prof. John Kurakar