The stretches of land that were submerged in water six months ago are now parched. Land surfaces were washed away into rivers then, and now water is pumped from rivers to quench the thirst of people. This contrasting situation will be the focus of the Water Convention to be held at Mankavu on World Water Day on March 22.
The convention is organised by the Kozhikode District River Protection Committee that had come up with a week-long drive along river banks in the district in March 2018 to create awareness on the need to protect rivers. This year, the committee is planning to stress ways to conserve water on a day-to day basis.
“When parts of the district are facing severe scarcity of water, we come across burst water pipelines too quite often. Any number of complaints have been filed. But the authorities have not paid much heed,” said Faisal Pallikkandy, district general secretary of the committee. The committee feels that encroachment on rivers and pollution are the major reasons behind the death of rivers.
“We are planning to exhibit dirty water from various rivers, especially parts of the Kallai river, at the convention. The aim is to showcase the condition of water in these rivers so that the public realises the need to protect them,” Mr. Pallikkandy said. The committee also plans to come up with a booklet featuring ‘Dos and Don’ts’ in connection with water conservation. “During the floods, the rivers regained their course and reclaimed the land that had been encroached. The disaster struck many who had encroached the rivers,” Mr. Pallikkandy said and pointed out the danger posed by interlock tiles.
Writer K.P. Ramanunni will open the convention at 4 p.m. on March 22 on the banks of the Mankavu river where the Kallai and Mampuzha rivers converge.