Spillway outflow adds to Kollam water woes

Kollam: Though the state  has declared a drought protocol, the Kollam district administration is not concerned about the water flowing out of the spillway of Paravur lake into the sea.  The fresh water from Ithikkara river that is fed to the lake is lost through the spillway worsening the drinking water woes in the district. Despite repeated complaints, the administration has not taken any  step to save the precious water due to the nexus between the  local politicians and water tanker contractors.

The water flowing to the Paravur lake from its feeder Ithikkara river is not preserved owing to the malfunctioning of the shutter of the spillway opening to the Arabian sea. This has also depleted the water level in the nearby Kappil and Nadayara lakes. “The major irrigation department is in charge of maintaining the shutters, which was kept open throughout the year wasting water. Now the shutter is closed, but it is of no use. Every year, maintenance fund is allocated in the name of the shutter too. This has been brought to the notice of the district administration, but it is not willing to take  steps to preserve the water. The administration has evaded the meetings that were  planned five or six times,” said Peter Pradeep, environmental activist of Paravur. 

A water lobby controlled by contractors and politicians is ganging up for a new spillway eyeing  the fresh funds, he alleged. The Paravur lake is linked to the Kappil and Nadayara lakes through the manmade Maniyamkulam canal. The lakes and the Ithikkara river which can  maintain  higher water levels during summer hydrate  the Polachira marshy lands, which subsequently retain water in wells and other water sources for the people residing in panchayats, including Pooyappally, Mayyanadu, Chathannoor  and Paravur municipal areas.