Adopt a River

Amrithamedu is the highest point in the Kuttikkanam region of Peerumedu hill ranges in the Idukki district of Kerala. On the northern side of Amrithamedu is Madamakulam, a natural pond at the base of a waterfall. This region has a number of connected water bodies like the Uppukulam Reservoir and Vellapara Waterfalls. This chain of water bodies in and around this region form the source of tributaries that go on to form four major rivers – Meenachil, Manimala, Pampa, and Periyar.

The scenic beauty of this region with its lush forests and misty mountains is trekkers’ heaven. It is also known for its rich biodiversity including several rare and endemic species. However, this fragile ecosystem is under severe threat of degradation mainly due to pollution from animal farms and irresponsible waste disposal.

 A team of scientists from TIES together with leaders of Ente Manimala Ar Peoples Fraternity (people’s collective for the Manimala river), led by Dr. N. Jayaraj MLA, Subin S. Member- District Panchayat and Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary-TIES, visited the location to take stock of the on-the-ground situation. Forest Department officials guided the team to various locations in the region.

 The team identified 3 major causes for the extensive pollution of the entire stretch of water flow in the area:

1. Direct seepage from a pig farm located in this location.
2. Unchecked dumping of domestic solid waste on the hill slopes.
3. Uncontrolled tourism and trekking activities in the area

 Technicians from TIES collected water samples from several locations in the streams from the top to the bottom of the hill range. Tests showed that all samples were heavily contaminated with coliform bacteria, organic wastes, low dissolved oxygen, etc.; all this in an area which is the point of origin for four major rivers of Kerala.

People all over the world have always trusted natural water in the hills to be pure. Trekkers to Amrithamedu have filled water bottles from the waterfalls and even drunk water straight from a mountain stream. Residents never considered the need to purify water before drinking. Nothing ever tasted better than that cold crystal clear water. But not anymore. Now the chain of water bodies in this region is foul-smelling at several locations and people rely on bottled drinking water.

TIES has taken up the matter with local authorities and also submitted a request to Kerala State Biodiversity Board to declare the region a Biodiversity Park in order to conserve the entire ecosystem. We are planning to place information boards and warning signs all through the region for generating awareness among the visitors. A study to document the rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem features has already begun and more conservation activities are in the pipeline.

We look forward to sharing reports on all these activities and more with you in the months to come. We are so very grateful to have you beside us protecting these beautiful rivers and forests of Kerala.

1200 acre of paddy polders (low lying areas) at Vijayapuram, Manarcaud, and Ayarkunnam Gram Panchayat areas are part of Meenachil-Meenanthara watershed of Kottayam district. As a result of interventions under the Meenachil-Meenathara-Kodoor River Relinking Project, paddy cultivation was restarted in this area two years ago. But during the last week of February 2020, these polders were reeling under severe water shortage leading to drying up of rice plants. Each polder has a farmers’ collective and there are seven such collectives in the area. TIES and the Meenachil-Meenathara-Kodoor Relinking Peoples’ collective (MMKRP) convened a meeting with the farmers’ collectives to develop a solution for this emergency.

TIES water team surveyed the entire stretch of Velloorthodu, the main stream that provides water to every polder, and met leaders of the farmer collectives. The team took readings of water levels at different stretches of rivulet and analysed the situation. Based on this information, TIES suggested the following

1. Refitting the pumping facility (traditional system of Pettiyum Parayum) at Vadavathoor bund;
2. Clearing a 210-meter long rivulet and putting in 2-3 temporary bunds; and
3. Constructing a new check dam at Onattu Kadavu, near Thiruvanchoor.

With the help of Minor Irrigation and Agriculture departments, Govt. of Kerala, the refitting of Pettiyum Parayum (traditional water pumping mechanism), restoration of rivulets and construction of temporary check dam were completed within three days. The cleaning process was an intensive one requiring heavy machinery and it was a proud moment when the water reached the paddy fields that had severely impacted by the water shortage. Now the entire crop is safe and the farmers are expecting a good harvest. 

Besides the rivulets and stretches of the Meenanthara-Velloor rivers now having a good flow of water I them because of this intervention, ground water resources like wells and ponds have also been recharged by the fresh surge of water. This has solved the drinking water crisis in the entire area, benefitting about 1000 families and 4500 individuals. The farmers' collective has since taken on the responsibility to clean and maintain the rivulet ensuring sustainability of the initiative.