A vital digital mapping project has commenced in Kozhikode’s rural areas, focusing on its numerous rivulets and streams. This extensive initiative is designed to bolster water conservation efforts and tackle the growing threats of pollution. The Haritha Keralam Mission is actively supporting this endeavor, with the Kunnamangalam block panchayat being the first region to undergo this detailed survey.
Local panchayat officials highlight a critical issue: the lack of comprehensive mapping and subsequent conservation strategies has severely impacted many smaller waterbodies. These natural arteries are often essential for local drinking water supplies. Disturbingly, numerous rivulets have already succumbed to neglect, drying up due to indiscriminate waste dumping and widespread contamination.
Coordinators from the Haritha Keralam Mission in Kozhikode confirm that this new mapping effort will meticulously record the current health of each rivulet, crucially incorporating input from the local community. The outcome will be a detailed, scientifically verified inventory of both active and dried-up water channels. This invaluable data will then be shared with relevant government departments to inform and guide the planning and implementation of crucial conservation and pollution control measures.
Officials also confirm that several local administrative bodies have already advanced through the initial phases of this critical survey, responding to persistent concerns voiced by environmental groups and community action councils. A State-level coordinator for the Haritha Keralam Mission emphasized, “Should any significant environmental threats be uncovered, these findings will be promptly escalated to higher authorities for immediate intervention.” He further noted that the comprehensive mapping of waterbodies is now a mandated practice across Kerala, directly addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
In communities like Karassery, Thottumukkam, Koodaranhi, and Koombara, residents have consistently raised alarms about extensive quarrying operations. They contend that this activity is a primary cause for the disappearance of many traditional rural streams. The current survey will include rigorous scientific assessments to pinpoint the exact reasons behind the recent loss of these ancient and once-reliable water sources.
A retired scientist from the Kozhikode-based Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) recalled a similar mapping initiative from 2017. That project, supported by NABARD under the National Water Campaign, focused on major waterbodies and check dams across 14 gram panchayats in Kozhikode. Its key findings highlighted water overuse and declining water quality as significant factors contributing to drinking water scarcity in the district.
In related efforts, the Kerala Remote Sensing and Environment Centre, in collaboration with CWRDM, had previously undertaken a comprehensive mapping of wetlands throughout the State. This pioneering work, spearheaded by the State Wetland Authority of India, culminated in the creation of a digital inventory, with all details uploaded to a dedicated central government portal to facilitate future conservation actions.