KOZHIKODE: Gone are the days when water through Kuttiyadi canal used for agricultural purposes in the hinterland of Kozhikode. A fast depleting water table had caused shifting the priorities of canal water from agriculture purposes to recharging water bodies. The water released by the irrigation department from Peruvannamuzhi dam has been flowing into major and minor canals measuring up to 600 km, in 42 grama panchayats, three municipalities and a part of Kozhikode Corporation.
“Now, the water is being used to recharge the wells of the surrounding areas. A dip in water level in the wells causes the public to scream for canal water which indicated fast depleting groundwater,” agrees Kuttiyadi irrigation project executive engineer Ramachandran K. As of now, 1.2 million cubic meters of water is being released through the canal a day. Other than recharging the water bodies, the canal water is being used to resist the salinity of water in Vadakara area.
“Due to high tide, salt content will increase in some areas under the Vadakara Municipality. When canal water reaches the area, it mixes with the saline water of the nearby water sources thereby diluting the salinity,” he elaborated. “There are two main canals—Edathukara and Valathukara. Edathukara caters to the Koyilandy, Vadakara taluk and Valathukara to a portion of Kozhikode Corporation. There are ten branches under the main canals and several distributaries under the branches,” explained Sahadevan Chadayan, technical assistant at irrigation department.
