PATHANAMTHITTA May 03, 2017
The State government will soon prepare a comprehensive action plan to
rejuvenate the Varattar river, a tributary of the Pampa, and execute
the same in a time-bound manner, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Issac has
said.
The Minister was inspecting the badly degraded Varattar riverbed at Othera-Puthukkulangara, near Thiruvalla, on Monday. Dr Issac said the present sad state of affairs with the Varattar was nothing but a man-made tragedy. The nine-km-long Varattar, a natural flood escape of floodwater between the rivers Pampa and Manimala, has its origin from the Pampa at Puthukkulangara.
The Varattar mouth opens into the Pampa at Meppuram and meanders through Thaimaravumkara, Thalayar, Nannad and Thriuvanavandoor, before it merges with the Manimala at Vaalathode, near Eramallikkara, in Alappuzha district. The once-prolific river is almost dry, leaving heavily weeded small patches of water and narrow streams at certain points.
This is due to the indiscriminate sand-mining that had blocked the natural water flow between the Varattar and the Pampa four decades ago.
Varattar is, perhaps, the worst affected water source in the illegal encroachment spree the Central Travancore region had witnessed over the past four decades.
A major portion of the riverbed have been encroached upon by private parties.
Some of them have even managed to obtain ‘possession certificates’ from the authorities concerned for the encroached portion of the land in their possession.
Study under way
The Minister said he had discussed the matters concerning rejuvenation of Varattar with the Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas and the government would convene a meeting of major stakeholders soon.
The Water Resources Department had already started studies on Varattar rejuevanation and a scientific wetland planning would be made to ensure sustainable flow of the river.
Dr Issac said the causeways that hinder the smooth flow of the river would be demolished and bridges would be constructed at all these places. He said fund would be implemented as part of the Pampa Action Plan. Veena George, MLA; T.N. Seema, Haritha Keralam Mission deputy chairperson; K. Ananthagopan, Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Board chairman, and N. Rajeev, Eraviperoor panchayat vice-president, were present.
The Minister was inspecting the badly degraded Varattar riverbed at Othera-Puthukkulangara, near Thiruvalla, on Monday. Dr Issac said the present sad state of affairs with the Varattar was nothing but a man-made tragedy. The nine-km-long Varattar, a natural flood escape of floodwater between the rivers Pampa and Manimala, has its origin from the Pampa at Puthukkulangara.
The Varattar mouth opens into the Pampa at Meppuram and meanders through Thaimaravumkara, Thalayar, Nannad and Thriuvanavandoor, before it merges with the Manimala at Vaalathode, near Eramallikkara, in Alappuzha district. The once-prolific river is almost dry, leaving heavily weeded small patches of water and narrow streams at certain points.
This is due to the indiscriminate sand-mining that had blocked the natural water flow between the Varattar and the Pampa four decades ago.
Varattar is, perhaps, the worst affected water source in the illegal encroachment spree the Central Travancore region had witnessed over the past four decades.
A major portion of the riverbed have been encroached upon by private parties.
Some of them have even managed to obtain ‘possession certificates’ from the authorities concerned for the encroached portion of the land in their possession.
Study under way
The Minister said he had discussed the matters concerning rejuvenation of Varattar with the Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas and the government would convene a meeting of major stakeholders soon.
The Water Resources Department had already started studies on Varattar rejuevanation and a scientific wetland planning would be made to ensure sustainable flow of the river.
Dr Issac said the causeways that hinder the smooth flow of the river would be demolished and bridges would be constructed at all these places. He said fund would be implemented as part of the Pampa Action Plan. Veena George, MLA; T.N. Seema, Haritha Keralam Mission deputy chairperson; K. Ananthagopan, Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Board chairman, and N. Rajeev, Eraviperoor panchayat vice-president, were present.
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