Kerala hydel project could drown iconic waterfall’s thunder
FEELING THE POWER PINCH
It is sad that for 163 MW power we are planning to destroy a lush green cover. The Madhav Gadgil expert panel on Western Ghats has put Athirappilly and surrounding areas in ecologically-sensitive list and opposed any move to grant permission to the dam.
DR LATHA ANANTHA, founder of River Research Centre
“They have to kill us before building the dam. We never expected such a proposal from the new government that we just voted to power. It is a ploy to plunder green cover and destroy the serene waterfall. We will oppose it tooth and nail,” said tribal leader KP Indira.
Several tribals like Indira work with the Vana Samrakshana Samiti, a group that protects the waterfall and surrounding areas. For them, it is the sole source of their livelihood. “Only fools will argue that the dam can be built without harming the pristine forest,” said Gopalan Kaliappan, another tribal.
The hydel project with an installed capacity of 163 MW is being planned on the Chalakudy river in Thrissur district. It will be spread along 6.7 km upstream from Athirappilly waterfall to the Vazhachal fall, both famous tourist destinations. Six dams for hydel projects and one for irrigation have already been constructed along the 145-kmlong river that flows through Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts before entering the Arabian Sea.
Environmentalists say the proposed dam will submerge 200 hectares of forest land that is home to tigers, elephants, the endangered Malabar giant squirrel, lion-tailed macaque and great Indian hornbill. Besides affecting the rich flora and fauna, it will also displace 500-odd tribal families living here for many generations.
The tribals say they have been displaced and driven downstream earlier for hydro power projects and there is hardly any forested area left downstream for them to shift. The dam would also affect at least four lakh people living downstream, they argue.
“It is sad that for 163 MW power we are planning to destroy a lush green cover. The Madhav Gadgil expert panel on Western AT A GLANCE waterfall’s height total width Water flow rate a campaign to protect Chalakudy river.
The dam was first mooted in 1978 and the state electricity board (SEB) moved a proposal in 1982. But it was forced to back down following a loud outcry. SOME BOLLYWOOD HITS FILMED AT THE FALLS
Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta (the song Jjya Jale)
Ratnam’s Guru (the song Barso Re Megha)
Ratnam’s Raavan (the song Behene De)
Rajkumar Santoshi’s Pukar starring Anil Kapoor (the song Sunta Hai Tera Khuda)
Shankar’s Nayak (the song Chalo Chale Mitwa)
Rohan Sippy’s Kuch Naa Kaho (the song Achchi Lagti Ho)
Several scenes in blockbuster Bahubali In 1998, when Pinarayi Vijayan (the current CM) was the Power Minister in the EK Nayanar government, the project was revived again. Later it was given ecological clearance but got into a series of legal wrangles.