In an attempt to work out a solution that could be a model for revival and management of river systems, the Chalakudy Puzha Samrakshana Samithi (CPSS) and the Forum for Policy Dialogue for Water Conflicts have undertaken a research to track the Chalakkudy river through its several canals and work out a solution involving farmer groups to save the river.

“We have already mapped the flow of the river within the river basin, including its interventions, which will help us understand what has gone wrong and the possible solutions,’’ said A Latha, scientist and coordinator of the project.

She says there is lack of comprehension of a river basin as a single ecological entity along with a lack of understanding of upstream interventions on downstream water uses. The interferences within river basin is one of the major flaws in this most followed techno-centric model of river basin development and management.

“When the water meant for paddy cultivation is used for other crops, then there is every possibility that it gets exhausted midway and never reaches downstream causing conflict,’’ Latha adds.

One of the reasons for the project is the ongoing conflict surrounding the opposition to the proposed Athiramppilly Hydro Electric Project in the Chalakudy river basin in Central Kerala. The proposal for a seventh dam across this 144 km Western Ghats river had triggered widespread protests from downstream communities and an indefinite satyagraha is going on since February 2008 near the dam site demanding the scrapping of the project.

“For the first time in the history of Kerala a dam project is being opposed not on the grounds of rehabilitation issues or forest loss, but on the cumulative impacts of reservoir operations,’’ she says.

They are planning to form small farmer groups in 15 panchayats who will be able to take the message to the larger populace.

The present ‘action-research’ intends to arrive at a reservoir operations model to synchronise the year-round operations of the Kerala Sholayar and Poringalkuthu Hydro Electric Power station located upstream in the Kerala part of the Chalakudy river basin with the irrigation and drinking water needs of the major irrigation project (Chalakudy River Diversion Scheme) in the downstream grama panchayats and municipalities.

The reservoir operations model if implemented would stabilise the river flow and cater to downstream irrigation and drinking water needs as well.