Greens protest against CIAL's hydel project in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: Environmental activists say the River Chaliyar is under threat from two hydel projects coming up across Iruvanjippuzha, one of its tributaries originating from the Western Ghats in Kodanchery near Thiruvambadi in Kozhikode district. They are against reckless destruction on the river banks, diversion of streams and irreparable damage it could cause to the ecosystem. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has a 33-year concession for running the projects in the Chaliyar river basin.

The powerhouse of the Pathankayam hydel project of Minar group in Iruvanjippuzha aiming at generating 4 MWs also is nearing completion. A team of environmentalists headed by Prof Shobeendran visited the spot the other day to streamline the agitation. Mindless mining is on at several points, and the waste dumped into the river. The leader of the action council Georgekutty Vilakkunnel said the two projects would “wreak havoc" on the environment.

“Both these groups are violating all norms, and the panchayat administration is dancing to their tunes,” he told DC. “The Arippara stream is vanishing.”  Interestingly, KSEB has already registered protest against the move saying such constructions should not be allowed on adjacent points. "As per guidelines, there should be a gap of at least 4 km between two such hydel projects.  Here the powerhouse of the private group is coming just a few meters off from the CIAL project site," an official said. The CIAL targets 4.5 MW during six months when there is good water flow. It would complete by 2018 at the cost of Rs 36 crore.