Kollam: Lens on check dam after floods

Kollam: Kollam district administration has ordered a scientific study on the controversial check dam constructed across Pallikkal River at Pavumba here that caused floods in the area.

Water from the river spilt over the check dam damaging 300 houses and several hectares of crops in Kunnathoor and Kaurnagappally taluks.

The district collector and various department heads visited the dam and directed the ADM to conduct a scientific study with the support of technical experts.

The dam that got administrative sanction in 2014 was built by the minor irrigation department for Aryanpadam irrigation project despite protests by farmers and agricultural officers.

“Whether the check dam has a role in causing a flood in the area during rains could be confirmed only after scientific assessment. It will also be examined whether the check dam hinders the water flow in the river and if there is damage to the stonewalls along the sides of the water body causing it to leak,” said district collector B. Abdul Nasar after inspecting the site.

The engineers with major and minor irrigation departments, and harbour engineering officials were appointed to study the scientific aspects.

The check dam having a height of 1.5 metres was constructed for Aryanpadam lift irrigation project in Pavumba after it received technical sanction in 2014. It has a total length of 30 metres and has three openings of 3.5 metres in width.

The Pallikkal River originates from Kodumon in Pathanamthitta and ends at Kannetti Lake in Karunagappally.

The farmers with Churuli Padasekhara Samiti had protested against its allegedly unscientific construction. They say several paddy fields including Churuli, Kuttathukuzhi, Mana-ppalli, and Perakka Vayal were inundated even in small rains after its construction. The Sooranad South, Pavumba, Manappally, and Pallikkal areas were entirely under the water.