Scientists at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) have advised the residents on the banks of the Chaliyar against using the river waters for bathing and drinking for a week in the wake of spreading of green algae at Areekode in Malappuram district. A team of scientists collected water samples from the river on Monday.
S. Dipu, scientist, water quality division, told The Hindu that the algae had been found at three bathing ghats in Areekode in recent days. Some residents had complained about itching after bathing in the waters. “If the algae in the waters are toxic in nature, its use may lead to skin problems.
The presence of hepatotoxin may lead to liver diseases too. That is why we have advised against using the waters for the time being,” he said. The scientist, however, clarified that the algae was unlikely to spread to the well of the Kerala Water Authority in the vicinity.
The CWRDM is expected to put out the test results in a week.
The Chaliyar is the drinking water source for lakhs of people in several grama panchayats in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts and the Kozhikode city corporation. The algae are spread across 4-5 km from Areekode-Pathanapuram area to Moorkkanad.
Areekode, Oorngattiri, Kavanur, Keezhparamba, Kodiyathur and Mavoor grama panchayats could be affected. It has been alleged that the discharge of agricultural and industrial waste and sewage into the river waters is leading to serious environmental issues.
Dr. Dipu pointed out that the waters upstream was stinking too. “It needs to be investigated if oxygen content in the waters is coming down. That may lead to fish kill,” he added. Officials from the National Disease Control Centre too examined the waters.
Local elected representatives, social organisations and officials, who discussed the issue at a meeting later in the day, urged the District Collector, Malappuram, to intervene in the issue. There was a demand to involve the Kozhikode district administration too as it would affect the residents of Mavoor if the algae spread further.
