Behind police barricades, ₹195 cr work to clear Punnapuzha river debris underway, residents doubt priority

Kalpetta: As of June, the government had spent ₹108.20 crore on disaster relief following the Wayanad landslide. In contrast, the government has earmarked ₹195 crore- nearly 80 per cent more than the rehabilitation budget- for rejuvenation and debris clearance along the 8 km stretch of the Punnapuzha river.

Although the project's feasibility study is incomplete and no detailed project report has been finalised, the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd (ULCCS Ltd) has been working on the project at the site for several months. By the end of May, ULCCS's nearly two months of work near the Bailey bridge- dredging the debris-choked riverbed and piling silt along the banks- was washed away by heavy rains, residents said, after taking Onmanorama to the site. "The government first decided on the ₹195 crore budget for debris clearance, which, no doubt, needs to be done. But only after that did it begin figuring out how to spend it," said Congress leader and Kalpetta MLA T Siddique.

The massive project, lacking a clear plan and transparency, has become a hotly debated issue among residents. The cabinet meeting held in June ratified the decision to give administrative sanction (AS) for the work at a cost of ₹195 crore and to award the work to ULCCS.

While the big-budget debris clearance unfolds in evacuated zones behind police barricades- where even journalists are turned away- the government's rehabilitation housing project is taking shape 25 km away in Kalpetta, under full public view. ULCCS is executing both projects. But unlike at the disaster zone, ULCCS officials at the housing site were open to engaging with reporters and sharing details.

What's happening on the ground
When contacted, a top official in Wayanad Collectorate, coordinating the government's multiple initiatives for the landslide victims, said that the ₹195-crore debris clearance would be done "in a sustainable way" based on "hydrodynamic mobile study" and "LiDAR survey".

He said the hydrodynamic study is being jointly undertaken by the Civil Engineering Department of NIT-Calicut and the Irrigation Department to understand the new flow dynamics and assess the feasibility of restoration.

The Irrigation Department is planning LiDAR and drone surveys to generate high-resolution 3D maps of the terrain.

LiDAR- Light Detection and Ranging- is a technique where lasers are fired from a drone to map the ground below in high detail, even through thick vegetation or debris. These tools can detect subtle changes in the landscape, helping engineers and planners identify where the riverbanks eroded, where water may overflow again, and how to plan future interventions.

When asked if the study and survey reports were ready, considering that ULCCS had begun work on the ground, he said no. But the project involves building retention walls along the river, he said.

As for the breakup of the ₹195 crore project cost, he said it would be finalised only after the reports are submitted and the scope of work is clearly defined. The order issued by the government giving AS for the work categorises work as follows; desilting of the Punnapuzha river and removal of

boulders- ₹50,05,00,000, river training works to Punnapuzha river- ₹140,70,00,000, subsoil investigation, rock testing and Terrestrial Laser Scanning along Punnapuzha river and runout area- ₹90,00,000, monitoring, forecasting and alert systems- ₹3,90,00,000.

At Chooralmala town, police stopped the Onmanorama team from visiting the debris clearance site. However, in the evening, residents took the team to the area near the Bailey bridge. There, ULCCS machinery was at work, lifting boulders and rocks from the riverbed and lining them along the banks to reinforce the edges. "This new work looks sturdy," said Balakrishnan K of Attamala in the second week of July.

"Since May, they have been scooping out the debris and carelessly piling it along what they assumed was the riverbank. Everybody knows we get heavy rains here. One heavy downpour in late June wiped out work by five earth movers for weeks. There was no planning. It's as if they've forgotten this is public money," said Balakrishnan K of Attamala.

Now, boulders and rocks are being brought in from the school road on tipper trucks. Crawler excavators wade through the river, picking up one stone at a time and lining them along the banks to prevent erosion in case of another landslide. However, the rocks are once again being placed along what was once the old riverbank- a stretch that now lies in the middle of the altered riverbed. This suggests that restoration work has begun ahead of the hydrodynamic study’s completion, raising concerns that such premature interventions could prove ineffective if the river shifts again. "Nothing we do here will hold if there's another landslide or flash flood," said Manoj, a subcontractor reinforcing the foot of the Bailey bridge. His reason: the retention wall being built is around four to five metres high, which is inadequate to hold the water of Punnapuzha during heavy rains.

Manoj's view is echoed by Chooralmala resident and retired Subedar Major Vijayan A. He said the old concrete bridge stood about 36 feet, or nearly 11 metres, above the water level and had withstood every monsoon. It was destroyed during the landslide, not because of the water itself, but because of the debris load. "Tree trunks and other debris became lodged underneath. The trapped material created immense pressure, which the pillars couldn't withstand. Once they gave way, the entire structure collapsed," he said.

After the landslide, he said, the riverbed has risen and is now almost at road level. "The government is now planning a bridge with just three metres of clearance. But how can a river that once carried water 11 to 12 metres deep be expected to stay within a shallow space?"

Vijayan said a landslide is common in hilly areas, and he had seen many in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during his 34-year career with the infantry. "But there and in various places in Kerala, Bailey bridges were built over intact rivers. Here, the river is at road level, and the Bailey bridge was built over it. It has a clearance of only 3 metres."

Balan said that was the second reason why ULCCS's work was washed away at the end. When asked about the first reason, he said, "I told you, lack of planning. The government needs to first build strong retaining walls on both sides of the river- maybe not as high as the original ones, but at least seven to nine metres. Only after that should the bridge be constructed. Otherwise, the river will never stay within its course," said the retired junior commissioned officer.

River work can wait?
The resident said that the debris clearance from the river was important for the safety of the people staying back in Chooralmala. Around 375 families are staying in Chooralmala, said Mohammed C K. "But the priority should be starting a primary school in Chooralmala, even if it's in a rented building," said Mohammed, who runs a petty shop in Chooralmala. Now, children as young as six and seven years old start at 7 am to go to school at Meppadi, 30 km away. The return bus is at 4.30 pm. If they miss the next bus, which is at 6.30 pm, the children will reach home only by 7 pm, he said.

The government had relocated approximately 500 students from Mundakai LP School and Chooralmala Higher Secondary School to Meppadi.

Sreedharan, an estate worker, said the government should also start a primary health centre. "The estate dispensary is no longer functioning. The pharmacy was washed away. Now we have to travel 13 km to buy paracetamol," he said.

Subedar Major Vijayan said that there was a primary health centre building at Neelikappu in Chooralmala, but the government was not posting staff and doctors there. "It invested only in making the building," he said.

Also, the Civil Supplies' supermarket on wheels used to come thrice in a week to cater to Mundakai, Attamala and Chooralmala before the landslide. "Now it does not even come once a week. They say they are holding the affected people close to them. But we feel neglected," he said. Clearing the river alone will not help the residents of Chooralmala, said the retired army officer. "The government should learn to prioritise," he said.