Olavanna: Years of neglect and abandoned bridge debris are choking the Mampuzha River in Olavanna, slowing its flow and pushing nearby villages to the brink of repeated flooding and disruption. The riverbed still holds the scattered remains of the over 50-year-old Kunnathu bridge, left uncleared even after decades.

Unchecked dumping of waste to the water body continuously for more than 65 years, coupled with the steady accumulation of soil, has caused large portions of the river to silt up. Stretches that were once deep can now be crossed on foot. Ferry services have been disrupted, and during the monsoon, the area faces recurrent flooding and damage to agricultural land. The river flow between the Kannamchinnam and Kunnathu bridges, and further upstream to Kaduppini, remains critically threatened.

At Kaduppini, two blockades continue to obstruct the river. Nearly 20 years after the construction of the Vent Pipe bridge, around 50 wooden poles and sand-filled sacks used to create the temporary bund still remain, slowly contributing to the river’s gradual narrowing.

Major bottlenecks persist at the Puzhambram bridge, Kannamchinnam bridge, old Kunnathu bridge, and the Odumbra–Kaduppini bridge. Waterlogging in the Kaduppini Odumbra and Thottumaram South areas has made life increasingly difficult for residents. The soil dumped along the riverbanks during the construction of the Mampuzha bypass bridge was never properly removed, further restricting the flow.

Repeated filling of the river’s edges for new bridge works has worsened the situation. T K Assis, president of the Mampuzha Protection Committee, said that official apathy in clearing temporary structures has only deepened the crisis faced by the local community.