Enathu: A dip in the post-flood water level of the Kallada river may result in the seepage of brackish water into it during high tide, experts warned. The water level in several wells on the river banks, too, have reportedly fallen at its several stretches here.
The river, which was in spate last month amid heavy rain, has several irrigation projects on its banks. As of now these irrigation projects are unaffected, but it is likely that the saline water in the Ashtamudi Lake could seep into the river during high tide.
The river had experienced such a phenomenon earlier. Water distributed through the Kadampanad freshwater distribution project was found saline before. Experts had suggested the building of a check-dam downstream the ghat at Bhagawati Temple to check the intrusion of saltwater as well as to protect the Munroe Island in the Ashtamudi Lake.
Ecologists blame sand mining, which lowered the river's depth, for saltwater intrusion.
Currently, water level has fallen considerably near where the well and pumping station of the Kadampanad water project are situated. The river has been even observed running eastward in the opposite direction during high tide, especially in summer.
Kallada, which has a 121-km course along Kollam district in southern Kerala, empties into the Ashtamudi Lake after branching out near Parappar at Thenmala.
