Fasting for a dying river

KANNUR: A group of environmental and social activists has brought to public attention a river that is left to die, in an attempt to revive its lost glory. The Kakkad river, a tributary of the Valapattanam river, is facing threat from large-scale dumping of waste, especially waste from slaughter houses. It is now just a shadow of what it was decades ago, according to activists here. Increasing encroachments have also accelerated the near demise of the river, they say. Though environmental organisations in the district have taken up the cause of reviving and protecting the river, it continues to be treated as a garbage dump. The environmental and social activists from various organisations here came together on Republic Day to once again draw public attention to the condition of the Kakkad river which is now mostly stagnant. They staged a fast on the river bank to highlight their demands that included steps to restore the natural flow of the river.
“The Kakkad river was once a rich river but now it is almost dead as it has been used for dumping waste over the years,” said K.V. Unnikrishnan Namboodiri of the Greensga, an environmental organisation striving to draw attention to the condition of the river. The river was now stagnant because of mindless waste-dumping, he said. The natural flow could be restored if the river was cleaned up, the activists said, urging the authorities to urgently take steps to clear it of accumulated waste. Action against encroachments should also be taken, they demanded. The campaign was organised by the Kakkad Puzha Samrakshana Samiti, Paristhithi Samoohya Aikyadhardya Samiti, Humanist Movement, Kerala Pattika Jathi-Pattika Varga Aikya Vedi, Nattarivu and Greensga. Among those who participated in the day-long campaign were C.K. Assainar, Pallipram Prasannan, Prabhakaran Narath, K. Kunhumuhammad and Ramachandran Kattakkulam.

Source: The Hindu, Dated:27.01.2010