Mud banks in the Pampa to be removed

The Major Irrigation wing of the Water Resources Department has
decided to remove the mud banks that have formed on the riverbed of
the Pampa along the Sree Parthasarathy Temple ghats and in the
racecourse of the Uthrattathi Vallamkali (snake boat regatta) at
Aranmula on a war-footing basis. A team of experts led by Assistant
Executive Engineer (Major Irrigation) Elsy John visited the temple
ghats on Wednesday to take stock of the situation there and to chalk
out an action plan to clear the mud banks that pose a threat to the
smooth conduct of the annual snake boat race and pageantry during the
Onam festival. According to Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS) general
secretary Ratheesh R. Mohan, the Water Resources Department has
assured the PSS leaders that the repair and maintenance of the temple
ghats would be completed in the next two weeks. The official team also
chalked out an action plan for mud bank removal before July 31 when
the annual Vallasadya vazhipadu at the Sree Parthasarathy temple
begins. The decision to clear the obstacles in the racecourse was on
the basis of a memorandum to that effect that was submitted to Water
Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran.

The Hindu, July 16