An attempt to reinforce
the protest against Athirapally hydropower project
Introduction
The Athirapally Waterfalls in Trichur, Kerala, is often referred
to as the Niagara Falls of India.
Athirappilly falls is situated 70 km away from
Kochi city. The 80 ft high falls is a part of the Chalakudy River and
originates in the upper reaches of the Sholayar ranges in the Western Ghats.
Lush greenery and little streams that cover the winding route up and down to
the falls exhilarate and intimidate all at once. The region is home to many
endangered species of animals such as the Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard,
bison and sambhar. Four species of hornbill are only seen here in the Western
Ghats. It also has one of the highest levels of fish diversity with 85
different species of fresh water fish.
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| Athirapally Waterfalls |
This blog is my attempt to understand the project and it’s
after effects. Actually I am being a Tour Operator and lives Irinjalakuda,
Athirapilly waterfall is one of the nearest tourist destinations to my life. I
am sure that this tourist destination has covered the minds of lakhs of people
through direct visits to this place and watching the same through various
movies such as Ravan, Guru, Bahubali etc. If one is on a holiday to Kerala, then a visit to the
Athirapally Falls becomes a must-watch experience as it is a favorite
destination for all those who love the magnificence of nature and beauty. But,
we don’t know how far the beauty and riparian
ecosystem of athirapally will exist.
The Proposed Hydropower
Project
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| Layout of Proposed KSEB Project at Athirapally |
The Kerala State Electricity Board has
proposed to build 163 MW capacity hydropower project at the Athirapally water
falls on the Chalakudy River, Kerala. The Union Ministry of Environment and
Forest has sanctioned clearance for this proposed project on July 19, 2007 but environmentalist
are against this project because it will result in enormous destruction of the
riparian ecosystem. The proposed dam will affect 138.6 hector of forestland and
livelihood of tribal families depending on the forest and river. Also a stretch
of 28.5 hectares of riparian forest falls under the submergence area while it
will reduce or dry up the water-flow of Athirapally waterfall which harnesses
ecology and tourism in this area.
Public hearing & EIA
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| Protest Against Athirapally Project |
Before construction of any big/small
dam on river its impact assessment/analysis should be done in a scientific way
otherwise it will pose threat to present ecology as well as economy. Prior to
clearance it is mandatory to conduct public hearing as well as EIA study but
NGOs are claiming that there wasn’t any EIA study or public hearing for this
project.
The
Major Impacts of the Project
The dam is
expected to lead to the diversion of about 140 hectares of forest land, which
is the habitat of the tiger, Asiatic elephant, the Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar
Giant Squirrel, lion-tailed macaque and other species. An elephant corridor
will be affected by the submergence of a large forest tract.
The hydel
project would take away water from an existing irrigation system, which covers
20,000 acres of farmland downstream. The reduced
river flow will have impact on more than 5 lakhs people from different
panchayaties and municipalities depending on the river for drinking, irrigation
and livelihood purposes. The scenic beauty of the place attracts more than 6
lakhs people every year to visit Athirappilly waterfalls. The reduced water
flow will severely affect the tourism industry and the economy based on it.
Hundreds of tribal mostly ‘Kedar tribes’ which is endemic tribes are situated
in this river basin. If their livelihood, which mostly depends on the river and
forest, is affected the tribal settlements will be at risk.
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| V.N. Geetha, tribal chieftain. Click the IMG to read her view on the project |
Study on the Proposed
Project in Athirappilly and the Kadar Tribe”
While I was referring various site for
more resources I found this study conducted by Dr
Sinitha Xavier and Dr C C Babu, Professors of Economics Department of PM
College, Chalakudy, which focused on the socio economic problems of the Kadar
tribe
As per the Study
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| Kadar Tribes |
In Kerala a hydro electric project is proposed in the
vicinity of the Athirappilly waterfalls. Athirappilly is a Panchayath in
Chalakudy Taluk of Thrissur district. The proposed project has direct and
indirect impact on the socio economic life of the people of Athirappilly. The
primitive tribes like Malayas, Mala Malasars, Mannans and Kadars live in the
project area and the most affected tribes are the Kadar tribe. The literacy
rate, employment pattern, income and the general appreciation of the project is
analyzed in the study. The literacy rate of the Kadar tribe is only 27 per
cent. The income of this community is low that 50 per cent of them have income
below Rs.5000 per month. The drop
out of students from different schools is 48 per cent. The government of Kerala
has to take immediate initiative to rehabilitate them to a suitable
surrounding.
Kadar tribe in Kerala
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| Kadar Tribes |
Kadar tribe is one of the thirty two tribal aborigines in
Kerala. They belong to the primitive tribal groups and used to live in huts
made of mud, wooden poles, bamboo and leaves. The government of Kerala has
taken initiatives under different schemes to provide them with houses and
quarters. Kadar speaks a form of Tamil with Malayalam elements. The hereditary
headman of the settlement is called ‘Mooppan’ who deal with the social control
mechanism of the community. They subsist mainly on non timber forest produce
collection and forest labour. Traditionally they were expert food gatherers,
hunters and trappers. They were adept in making strong ropes required for their
honey collection and elephant capturing expeditions. The total population of
the Kadar tribe in Kerala is 2736 (Report, DFO 2015). The Kadar is found in
Thrissur, Palakad and Kozhikode districts of Kerala state.
Kadar Tribes in Athirapilly
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| Greater IndianHornbill Bird |
Highest number of Kadar tribe is found in the district of
Thrissur in Kerala. It is observed during the primary survey that the community
is comfortable in Athirappilly and finds job opportunities and education
facility for their younger generation. The Sex ratio (total) is found to be
1007:1360 which is very much less as compared to the general sex ratio of the
state of Kerala (1084: 1000, census 2011 ).
General Appreciation of the Project among the
Kadar tribe
The professors who conducted study, also made an analysis
on the general acceptance of the project among the Kadar tribe in Athirappilly.
As per the study general appreciation and acceptance of the project, Kadar
tribe who favor the project is 41.25 % and Kadar tribe who do not favor the project
is 316 98.75 %. As per the study the
mind of the people of the Kadar tribe is only four people spoke in favor of the
project and that too with indifference. It is to be remembered that they are
people of the forest and no one can deprive them their rights. It is observed
that the Kadar tribe in Athirappilly is in fear and tension that they will lose
their natural habitat and the means of livelihood.
Conclusion of the Study
The present study focused on the socio economic problems
of the Kadar tribe who are the potential sufferers of the arrival of the hydro
electric project at Athirappilly Panchayath of Thrissur district in Kerala.
They have shifted their dwellings and sacrificed their natural habitat due to
the emergence of the projects like Parambikulam/Aliyar, Peringalkuthu,
Sholayar, Pothundi, Mangalam and Thunakadavu in Kerala. As per the study the
literacy rate of the Kadar tribe is only 27 per cent which is much lower than
the state average. The employment pattern and income are clear indicators of
their economic backwardness and requires immediate government interference and
social support to uplift them. Before implementing the project the government
of Kerala should take sufficient precaution as to rehabilitate them in
accordance with their cultural upbringing and social re-orientation to bring
them to the mainstream.
Conclusion
I take my concluding words from the website of “Save
Athirapilly” an initiative of students from Law college of Thrissur. “Right to
Development’ should be in parity with the right to Environment. Of course Right
to Development is a very important right and thus has been sanctioned with the freedom
if exploitation of environment to achieve it. But this doesn’t mean the
complete destruction of environment which will pave the way to the total destruction
of life existence on earth.”
Let me draw my conclusion in the matter of this project
that is “Dam is not sustainable resource and let’s find another remedy for the
issue of KSEB. I affirm this answer from the recent experience of Maharashtra.
I hope no one forgotten the incidents happened in Maharashtra for drinking
water. I have gone through the daily reports published by various Malayalam
newspapers and deeply desire that situation should not happen in Kerala. I too support
the alternative suggestion posted by our present Finance Minister, Dr. Thomas
Isaac. As per him “Spend Rs.250 cr on LED and save more than what Athirappilly power
project consumes.”
The Authorities, cannot neglect the frequents
requests from the Kadar tribes community in Chalakdy, they have right to live
on earth and nobody have the right to annihilate the life sphere of any animal
on earth. So let’s raise our voice as “SAVE ATHIRAPILLY.”
You can also read the letter from V.N. Geetha, the “Ooru
Moopathy” (tribal chieftain) of Kadar tribes requesting your support against this project at the
below link.
References
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