The Chalakudy river waters some of the best natural habitats in Kerala. By the mid-1980s, over six dams across the river had already reduced the flow in the Chalakudy and caused a lot of damage. But the biggest threat to the river today is the Athirapilly Hydroelectric Project. This could be the seventh major dam on the river. This dam will ruin the beautiful Athirapilly waterfalls and drown the forest habitat that is home to elephants and rare turtle species. It will drown the important corridors (areas that connect one forest to another) in the elephant belt that extends from the Parambikulum Sanctuary in the northeast to the Pooyamkutty Reserve Forest in the south. This area, in fact, falls within Project Elephant Reserve Nine. This is also one of the few forests where all four species of hornbills – Great Indian, Malabar Pied, Malabar Grey and Common Grey – are found in the Western Ghats. The total fish diversity of the river basin is estimated to be a whopping 104 species, one of the highest in India. If the dam is constructed, the low altitude riparian forests will be lost forever. Apart from the wildlife, two settlements of the Kadar tribal community, a hunter-gatherer tribe, will also be displaced due to the dam. The dam will also have an impact on fishing communities and downstream farming communities. Though in 2001, the High Court ruled in favour of the people, the state government tried to revive the project in late 2003. The Kerala State Electricity Board is preparing a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) through an agency called WAPCOS, whose past record on wildlife concerns is not very good.




It is important that the Central Government does not give clearance to the State Government for this project. The Chalakudy River Protection Council (CRPC) has been working to create awareness about the threats from the project and has taken the matter to court. Through campaigns, nature camps and public meetings, they have also gained the support of gram panchayats (village councils). Write to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and ask them to please protect the Chalakudy river.

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The Minister for Environment and Forests
423, 4th Floor, Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi – 110 021.

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