Ranni: Raising ecological concerns, the water inflow to the Pampa River has not increased despite copious summer showers here in the Pathanamthitta district. The flow of water near to the Puvathumudu Kadavu, the confluence of Pampa River and Kakkattaru, has dipped considerably. The water discharged from the power plants in the eastern region reaches the confluence, and this water is mainly instrumental in increasing the downstream flow from Puvathumudu Kadavu.
The water flow from Pampa Triveni to Puvathumudu is negligible, and the minuscule flow, that too only in the morning, is maintained by the pools of water, which are used by local residents to bathe and wash clothes, found between the rocks. The flow will turn into a trickle as the temperature soars during daytime.
A check dam had been built across the Idathikavu Naaveena stream as part of the Perunthenaruvi hydroelectric power project, and the water flow from the check dam to the pump house of the power project, a distance of 600m, has also drastically dropped. This has adversely affected the Vechuchira and Kudamurutty water projects. The water for the Vechuchira project is sourced from water in the rock crannies, and transferred to the project’s well through pipes.
The pools of water between the rocks help in sustaining the water projects, and pumping would be stopped if the water level decreases. Sand dunes have formed and thick grass vegetation could be found in these dunes. Pockets of sludge have turned into banks and there are also instances of patches of land emerging in the middle of the river, posing danger to the river’s ecosystem.
