KOCHI: When construction of the temporary sand bund across Chalakudy River at Kanakkankadavu in Puthanvelikara panchayat is completed by the month-end, the severe drinking water scarcity in many panchayats in the northern parts of the district will be resolved to a great extent. District collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla has instructed that bund construction be completed by March 18 which will resolve the brackish water intrusion to the upper stream of Chalakudy River.
Mr. Safirulla visited Kozhithuruth, the area near Kanakkankadavu to review the progress of work and instructed that the works be finished immediately. The irrigation department is constructing the bund at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakhs. Sand dredged out from the river bed is being used for the construction. Puthanvelikara drinking water project which caters to the panchayat and nearby areas has been defunct for the last few months as brackish water has entered the river from the backwaters. Similar is the situation of other small scale drinking water projects which are dependent on Chalakudy River.
The Chalakudy River has six major dams and nearly 500 major and minor drinking water and irrigation projects situated in downstream areas in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts which are dependent on it. Downstream areas like Mala, Poyya, Annamanada, Kuzhoor, Puthanvelikara and Kunnukara are reeling under acute water scarcity as water in Chalakudy River is being diverted under the Thumboormuzhi irrigation project to the left and right banks through canals. With the water level in the river having receded, brackish water has started entering the upstream areas.
