KOZHIKODE: Two years ago, the Centre of Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM) launched a project to conserve and rejuvenate Iruvazhinjipuzha- the 30 kilometre river which is the lifeline of five panchayats and a municipality. The River was then facing serious environmental pollution, indiscriminate sand mining and encroachment. With the help of the public, civic bodies, students and voluntary organizations, CWRDM launched a number of projects for the conservation of the River over the last two years.
When the project came to an end on Friday, CWRDM and the public have a lot to cherish. Remarkable changes happened in the river. Now the public and their elected representatives are requesting CWRDM to launch a second phase. “Iruvazhinji is a major tributary of Chaliyar River. Lakhs depend on it, but the river's condition was pathetic with waste dumping, encroachments and other atrocities. That’s why we decided to launch a conservation programme. We had earlier successfully conducted a similar project at Mambuzha River,” said CWRDM Scientist and Principal Investigator of the project Dr Madhavan Komath.
Ahead of the project, CWRDM collected water samples from different parts of the river during three different seasons and conducted a water literacy programme ‘My River My Life’ in selected schools on either side of the river. Later signboards and organic fence were installed and CWRDM also conducted workshops. “During the workshop conducted as a last programme of the project, Thiruvambadi MLA George M Thomas asked us to continue . Our ultimate aim is to create a water culture so that people realize that it’s not just the government’s duty to conserve the river, but everyone’s responsibility ,” added Dr Komath.
