The Hindu 19.04.2013
Illegal bunds across river demolished
The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has demolished two illegally constructed temporary bunds across the Kakkadavu river in its upstream to revive flow of water in the river as the drying up of the river has affected water supply to the Indian Naval Academy (INA) and to the nearby Ramanthali panchayat.
This was disclosed by KWA officials at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Thursday to assess the drought situation in the district. When Payyannur MLA C. Krishnan told the Chief Minister that Ramanthali panchayat had not been getting water from the Kakkadavu river. The MLA said that alternative schemes should be planned for supply of water to the panchayat. The officials said water flow in the river was now expected to increase and water supply to the panchayat could then be normalised in a week. Tender process for constructing a permanent bund estimated at Rs. 80 lakh was under way and the work would be completed next year, they noted.
A.P. Abdullakutty, MLA, said the government should consider the proposal for a mini dam across the Aralam river as a standby source of water for the district.
