With the local body elections only a few months away, the Kerala Congress (M), a key constituent of the Left Democratic Front, is ramping up its outreach efforts in central Travancore by hosting a series of seminars and symposiums to highlight pressing social issues of the region.
To begin with, the regional party will be organising a symposium addressing the critical issue of flooding along the banks of the Meenachil river and Vembanad Lake a Kottayam on June 21.
According to KC(M) district president Lopez Mathew, the symposium aims to highlight the demand for the urgent formulation of comprehensive plans to mitigate the recurring flooding in the river.
According to Mr. Mathew, residents living near the main rivers such as Meenachil and Manimala have been grappling with the threat of continuous floods for the past few years.
“Many roads, including the Ettumanur-Poonjar highway, are frequently submerged, causing disruption to traffic. Businesses in towns like Pala and Erattupetta face the risk of flooding during the monsoon. The overflowing rivers are also causing extensive damage to crops. The distress and financial loss caused by flood of houses are unbearable. Practical plans to find a permanent solution to this need should be implemented urgently,” he says.
The KC(M) asserts that although the Irrigation department has made efforts to remove silt and mud from rivers and streams in a few places, these measures have proven insufficient to overcome floods. The Meenachil river flows into the sea through Vembanad Lake. However, the depth and area of the lake have come down alarmingly, rendering it incapable of accommodating river water.
“Reports that the water storage capacity of Vembanad Lake has come down more than 80% can only be viewed with concern,” says Mr. Mathew.
The KC(M) calls for the removal of obstacles at critical points such as the Thottappally spillway, Andhakaranazhi, Kochi Barmouth and various canals, both large and small, to facilitate smoother flow of water into the sea.
The silt and sand accumulated in the rivers and streams should be removed and illegal encroachments on the streams controlled. A permanent solution to the flood threat needs to be found by integrating the departments of Agriculture, Fisheries, Revenue, Local Self-Government and the Disaster Management Authority under the leadership of the Irrigation department.
The symposium, which will bring together representatives from affected communities and subject matter experts, will prepare a report based on suggestions generated during the event, which will be submitted to the government for further action.
Published – June 14, 2025 08:20 pm IST
