Kuravilangad: The canals of Kuravilangad and neighbouring areas in Kottayam district are turning into dumping grounds, covered in weeds and burdened with waste. With untreated effluents from shops, eateries and even toilets being diverted into them, these canals are fast becoming stagnant streams.

Kuravilangad Valiyathodu
In Kuravilangad, the Valiyathodu canal, which forms the backbone of nearly 10 water supply projects in the panchayat, is under severe threat. While the monsoon rains have temporarily revived its flow and cleared most of the garbage, the sides of the canal remain overrun with shrubs and plastic-clogged bunds. Wastewater from commercial outlets continues to be discharged unchecked and in some areas, even toilet waste is making its way into the stream. 

Uzhavoor
In Uzhavoor, where the canal flows through the town’s heart, the situation is no better. Despite its location, no conservation efforts have been undertaken. When local youth, including autorickshaw drivers, recently lifted the slabs covering a portion of the canal, they were met with a shocking volume of dumped waste.

Marangattupilly
The Mukkada canal, Marangattupilly’s main water source, lies in a state of abandonment. A key tributary that runs alongside the Kadaplamattam Road was narrowed as part of road development. This has resulted in severe waterlogging during monsoons.

What can we learn from Veliyannoor panchayat? 
Amid this grim scenario, Veliyannoor panchayat stands offers a glimmer of hope. In collaboration with the Haritha Kerala Mission and the Social Forestry Division, the panchayat has launched a conservation project along the Areekkara canal at a cost of ₹10 lakh. As part of the initiative, 5,000 bamboo saplings are being planted along a 7.5-kilometre stretch to strengthen the canal’s side banks and prevent erosion.

In the first phase, 1,000 bamboo saplings have already taken root. Orders for the remaining saplings have been placed and once matured, the bamboo will protect the canal banks from eroding further. A proposal to construct a retaining wall from Ayyanamburam to Koothattukulam is also under consideration. This is the first time bamboo is being strategically grown for canal protection in the region.