Monsoon Swells Bharathapuzha

Monsoon Swells Bharathapuzha 

Water Level Raises in Dams

The Bharathapuzha, flowing between the old and new Cochin bridges in Shoranur, filled with weeds and grass, witnessing a steady flow of water covering the river basins on Monday.

The rivers and canals which had run dry due to the extended summer this year, have witnessed a sigh of relief as the monsoon has being gaining stength over the last two days.

The Bharathapuzha and its seven tributaries including Kalpathy, Gayathri, Korayar, Chitturpuzha, Kannadipuzha, Kunthipuzha and Thoothapuzha have been swelling with water and have reportedly gained strength over the last two days, said reports on Monday.

" Completing new check dams at Cheruthuruthy and Shoranur as well as carrying out timely maintenance of the existing ones would have controlled the monsoon water from flowing off the surface " said P S Panicker, president of the Jana Jagratha on Monday, adding that if the check-dams had been in good condition the various drinking water schemes based in Bharathapuzha would have benefitted.

The authorities could have enlisted the support of the local bodies in maintaining the check-dams, he said. The Bharathapuzha, running between the old and new Cochin bridgesin Shoranur, had been covered with overgrown grass, bushes and weeds, but the recent two day rains have cleared those and retained the flow.

Reports said that rainfall recorded in the catchment areas of both Malampuzha and Mangalam dams were satisfactory and water levels were found rising.

PHOTO : PRASAD K SHORNUR

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS :15-07-2014 : PALAKKAD