Let's take an eye-test: take a closer look at the satellite image of our city below. Can we see two natural green streaks amidst the dense human inhabitation? Or only one? Well, if things progress in the present manner, we will not have to bother about this number anymore. In search of facilities to meet our ends, we forget or ignore this fact: our rivers are dying and eventually would bring in our own END.
Satellite map 2016; courtesy: Google Earth
In the map below (2003), two streaks can distinctly be seen. Well, the one almost invisible in the first image is the Killi River, more popular as Killiyar, and the distinct one is Karamana River, more popular as Karamanayar.
Satellite map 2003; courtesy: Google Earth
Waterbodies or more specifically wetlands are nature's way of sustaining itself. Rivers are the indispensable part of this process. Thiruvananthapuram, our capital is (or was?) blessed with abundant wetlands. Karamana River and Killi River being the two big (?) rivers in the system.
Karamana River
Ward and Conner in the Memoir of the Survey of the Travancore and Cochin States (1827) gave a poetic style description of Karamana river : “The Karamanay River is the most remarkable. It’s general course is about fifty degrees S. W. making several grand windings. It rises from the deep valleys of the high range of mountains about Chenboonjee peak; another branch from the sides of the pass on the range; in its course it is fed with numerous Nullahs. It’s bed is rocky and winding with steep banks, through a tract of high land covered with wood. Previous to its approaching the populated tracts, receiving in its course, the surplus waters of several glens; where the road crosses it is forded by a bamboo raft worked by the aid of canoes fastened to trees on either bank, from thence winding enters the Neyattincurray (Neyyattinkara) district. The river is navigable for rafts to a considerable distance, during a portion of the year attended with difficulty in hollows where the stream is violent and bottom, rocky. The timber for exportation is dragged to the river by elephants and floated during the rains. Small canoes roughly hollowed also are at this season floated down. It was in agitation to throw a dam across this river on the East of Curacolum (Karakulam) for the purpose of conveying water by a canal to the Trivandrum Fort across the Killiyaur. The ground had been inspected and a regular series of levels carried over an extensive paddy cultivation called the Irrimba Dasum and upon a rising ground intervening. The spot across, which the intended dam was to be thrown is about 1 1/2 furlongs broad; at the Eastern bank is a large rock and several smaller ones in its bed. The Kurramunnay (Karamana) river in a portion of its course forms the boundary between this district and Trivandrum one mile and West North-West 1 1/4¼ miles, occasioned by the gravelly heights through which it traverses, till it passes the village Kurramunnay where it is crossed by a substantial bridge; from thence it winds through a rich country to Poondra flag staff and soon after leaving the southern declivity of the table land, falls into the sea above Punnatoray head-land”.
(Source: Dr. Achuth Shankar S. Nair, Article in the The Hindu); emphasis added
Lt Col. Horsley, the engineer who built the old Karamana bridge and author of the earliest English treatise on history of Travancore (in 1838) also had given a wonderful description on the river. A few excerpts : "The total distance traversed by this river in all its winding is about forty-one miles, its course being generally S. and S.W. till approaching Poontoray (Poonthura) on the coast; after receiving the waters of Killyaur (killi river), it runs parallel to and unites with the Sea at the foot of a little head-land termed Covellum (Kovalam). The Karramanney is crossed by a rude stone bridge (the one built by Raja Kesavadasa during mid 18th century) at the village of the same name, over which the main road to Trevandrum passes. Boats can ascend this river for 8 to 9 miles during the monsoon and it is serviceable likewise for floating down bamboos and timber of all descriptions from the hills"
(Source: Dr. Achuth Shankar S. Nair, Article in the The Hindu); emphasis added.
The Travancore State Manual presents a beautiful picture of the Karamana River with an elephant (wow!) bathing inside. Perhaps more such wonderful snapshots would still be available in the museums of London.
Karamana River at times of it's glory feels like periyar (wish it had been in colour)
(Image source: Travancore State Manual)
It could easily walk/swim across. Now there's a possibility that we may need to send submarine/at least scuba divers to trace an elephant if it (ever, dare to) enters the river. Such is the extent of sand mining and damages done to the river. Browsing across web sites, many interesting pictures of the river were found and are presented here. The last two images depict the human activities that have polluted the river, they are just a handful here, and could be deceiving.
Inauguration of the old bridge at karamana
Source: http://muralirvarma.blogspot.in/
Confluence of Karamana and Killi Rivers
Courtesy: Entecity.com
(courtesy: thealternative.com)
A few places like these can still be spotted
Bathing Ghat (Kulikkadavu). Photo Courtesy: Dr. Achuth Shankar S. Nair, The Hindu
Courtesy: The Hindu daily
Photos: Karamana River Now: Level of contamination is evident in this picture
Source : The Hindu
Source : The Hindu
Or see before it dies?
Killi River
One of the tributaries of Karamana River, Killi River acted as a natural storm water drain too. Now on the verge of extinction thanks to human activities, Killi river (?) was once a navigable waterway like karamana river, flowing through lush green land and flanked by paddy fields. The river originates near Karippur in Nedumangad taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district and enters the city at Vazhayila and flows through Mannammoola, Maruthankuzhi, Edapazhinji, Jagathi,Killippalam, Attukal, Kalady South and merges with Karamana River at Pallathukadavu (information source: Wikipedia).
Here is an account of Killi River by Ward and Conner: "Between Kuramunnay and the commencement of the town, there is an open street of paddy fields through which flows the Killyaur, over it is a wooden bridge, this stream meanders to the East of the suburbs in which are few rocky heights of inconsiderable size. The town commences a short distance West of the above river... Its source is in the Nedduvencaud (Nedumangad) district – enters this 5 miles North of the Capital, meanders in a Southerly course three miles and is turned by the rivulet from Wutteeoorkauo (Vattiyoorkavu) S. S. W. 3 1/4 ¼ miles to the high road which crosses it then through: a wide stripe of cultivation nearly S. 1 3/4 ¾ miles forms a junction with the Kurramunnayaur (Karamana River). There are two dams thrown across it on the West of Wutteoorkauo, the Northernmost is dilapidated and the other called Murthengoe (Maruthamkuzhy) Ana, a canal branches off it, and is conveyed into the fort of Trivandrum. A mile South of the above dam is one in ruins across the original track of this river. The nullahs (thodus) that rise in the Northern ridges of hills fertilizing the paddy glens, verge towards one point and discharge themselves into a backwater which communicates with the sea at the Vailey bar (Veli Pozhikkara); the principal branches pass by Palliapooram, Cullicoottum (Pallippuram, Kazhakkutaam) and is termed the Chittar.”
(Source: Dr. Achuth Shankar S. Nair, Article in the The Hindu); emphasis added
Despite the historic aspect that Attukal , Valiyashala and Udiyannoor Temples are situated on the banks of this river, encroachment has reduced the river to a narrow, highly polluted canal at many places, which now floods during monsoon, adding to the misery of people inhabiting low lying areas.
Maruthammkuzhi Bridge across Killi River
Source: The Hindu
Source: The Hindu
Killi river during monsoon
Source: yentha.com
Source: yentha.com
Killi river during monsoon, Maruthamkuzhy Bridge
Source: yentha.com
Source: yentha.com
Above: Houses flooded near bund road due to an overflowing Killi River during monsoons.
Source: The Hindu
Source: The Hindu
Killi River: Waters to have been safe in the river now overflows
Source: Deccan Chronicle
The river has become dumping yard of domestic and other wastes, and an unauthorised sewer disposal facility too. Many domestic sewers and drains open in tot he river, choking it in to heights of pollution.
Killi River. Source: https://walkforpamba.wordpress.com
Drains emptying untreated water in to killi river
Source: https://walkforpamba.wordpress.com
Drains emptying untreated water in to killi river
(Source: Yentha.com)
Maruthamkuzhy bridge
Source: https://walkforpamba.wordpress.com
Killi river reduced to a canal
Water hyacinth across killi river
(Courtesy: Thrivikramji.com)
Anyone looking at the satellite pictures of 2003 and 2016 can spot tremendous changes on the banks of both rivers, killi river's case being the worst. It seems the building of road alongside the river from Killippalam to Attukal temple had triggered the decline of the river.
Killippalam then in 2003 and now in 2016
Connectivity is a necessity, but is not justified if it could undermine existence of natural systems. A ribbon development, most of which being unauthorised, followed on either banks of the river. This aggravated the narrowing of the river to the extent that it is almost not easy to spot in the image. What could have been made in to a beautiful walkway are now occupied by buildings, a vast majority of which are either fully or partially unauthorised.
a) b)
Killiyar: a) now (2016) and b) then (2003) the orange strip is the road coming up in 2003
The river had a width of about 20 m or more in 2003 at the bend, which is now almost half, the boundaries are ironically, well defined.
a) b)
Killiyar: a) now (2016) and b) then (2003) near Jagathy
A few of the places where greenery is still present
Killi River near Kalady. One should be blind not to spot the levels of
encroachment and reduction in width of the river
The Waterworks
The building of Aruvikkara and Peppara Dams and the subsequent commissioning of Trivandrum Water Works 1933 had created a rift between the river and the people. "The water that ran through the water lines in the city became the safe drinking water and Karamana river and also ponds and wells suffered neglect. Many wells became “potta kinar” (defunct wells) and were eventually filled. City ponds also suffered a similar fate. The ponds and the connecting channels to and from the river gradually transformed into garbage collecting channels and drains. The Kochar, which fed the Padmatheertham from the Killiyaar, a tributary of the Karamana, has vanished" (Source: Dr. Achuth Shankar S. Nair, The Hindu; emphasis added). The once well functioned storm water disposal system too vanished as a result; so did most of the paddy fields.
The Lakes
While being two important tourist spots, Akkulam and Kadinamkulam lakes too have suffered a lot from encroachment and waste disposals. The worst affected is Kadinamkulam lake, which now has hit headlines following septic tank waste disposals. A comparison of satellite images over a decade can clearly show the extent of damage inflicted to these ecosystems. And now we are widening the NH by-pass by further encroaching in to wetlands and bringing down hills.
Extent of damage done to akkulam lake through encroachments and tourism 'development' can be clearly seen in these images
Kadinamkulam lake as seen from Parvathy Puthanar (source: Travancore State Manual)
The man-made canals
Parvathy puthanar, a once navigable waterway had a similar fate too. This topic has been discussed in another page.
Transforming Parvathy puthanar: how far and how tough?
(Image sources: https://walkforpamba.wordpress.com/,
http://www.scorpiogenius.com/
Or, is it, really, done ?! Please note the last Key Point.
Above: News in Mathrubhumi Daily
Status of parvathy puthanar (recent survey, 24 december 2016)
Above: Encroachment levels (mainly official land acquisitions) on Parvathy puthanar, reducing it into a narrow drain. (image courtesy: Google Earth)
The yellow oval shows a 100m (or, 100 feet ?!) wide strip (area which parvathy puthanar had occupied centuries ago), and the rose one shows a 17 m wide green strip (what it is now). At many places width could be near 10-12 m at present, as can be seen in satellite imagery. It is obvious that all infrastructure development (roads& buildings on the right, and airport expansion on the left) had taken atoll on the parvathy puthanaar. Surveys are on full swing; but if this is the case with official land acquisition, wonder how they are going to reclaim the land. Does this mean as cities become smarter, they lose waterbodies?
09 June 2017
when even a drop of water could harbour mosquito larvae, what's worse than a stagnant water-body enriched (poisoned) with all sorts of toxic chemicals, sewage, decaying and eternal garbage and serving as a habitat to all sort of dangerous microbes and mosquitoes ? parvathy puthanar. A once (as per records) 100 m wide, navigable waterway is vanishing; so are the crores of money invested in reclaiming this man-made waterway. well, dear fellow citizens, go ahead, encroach more and more, dump more and more wastes, build property access through 'earth dams' across the flowing water, threaten authorities and workers. And then lament on recurring epidemics, lack of pure water and air for the rest of your lives. Our district is in the clutches of dangerous diseases like dengue Today's article in mathrubhumi sheds light in to the imminent danger.
09 June 2017
when even a drop of water could harbour mosquito larvae, what's worse than a stagnant water-body enriched (poisoned) with all sorts of toxic chemicals, sewage, decaying and eternal garbage and serving as a habitat to all sort of dangerous microbes and mosquitoes ? parvathy puthanar. A once (as per records) 100 m wide, navigable waterway is vanishing; so are the crores of money invested in reclaiming this man-made waterway. well, dear fellow citizens, go ahead, encroach more and more, dump more and more wastes, build property access through 'earth dams' across the flowing water, threaten authorities and workers. And then lament on recurring epidemics, lack of pure water and air for the rest of your lives. Our district is in the clutches of dangerous diseases like dengue Today's article in mathrubhumi sheds light in to the imminent danger.
Above: Article on Mathrubhumi
Until recently, I had only heard of a word Thettiyar. Hence in my old blogs I had missed it. But now realising what a grave mistake it was, given the hazardous status of the river and its tributaries, maily the vallathodu. If Parvathy puthanar and Killiyar are like patients in critical care unit, Thettiyar is almost at the exit of CCU, between the CCU and morgue
(http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2016/oct/12/from-pristine-to-stinking-1527060--1.html) .
IT Companies are always aware of the need for aesthetics (Infosys above) ...that's why the portion of thettiyar is made in to a beautiful channel there (but beauty hides the contamination though, and sidewalls for natural water body is not advisable) ... but why not outside these campuses?
Above: A dying thettiyar
Some of the recent moves include techies (Prathidhwani) in April 2017 who cleaned up thettiyar inside technopark campus. They had submitted a representation to the Government to take "Adequate steps to protect the small river “Thettiyar” inside Technopark Phase I and Phase III. The river is well protected in Technopark Phase II."
(http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/techies-bid-to-clean-up-thettiyar/article17766079.ece),
and CETians who organised a cycle rally in september 2017 (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/pedalling-to-raise-awareness-for-river-conservation/articleshow/60750594.cms) to propagate the need of saving water bodies including thettiyar. But most such moves have lost their charm.
In the recent days thettiyar and vallathodu have again gained attention of media (http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/ReadMore/38891/water-pollution1/E, , http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/clean-thettiyar-drive-tomorrow/article17748259.ece). An alarming rise in population of sucker fish has been reported on many waterbodies (they can survive without water for a day or even in waste water), including thettiyar (http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/offbeat/alarming-rise-in-sucker-fish-population-threatens-native-fishes-aquatic-biology-1.2119747).
killiyar: her days are numbered; and people believe they can have a great life by encroaching, building concrete forests and dumping all sorts of waste and sewage in to this river.. It's become a now or never situation and we are marching towards becoming a "smart city" !
An almost forgotten dying "river"
(01 Dec 2017)
Until recently, I had only heard of a word Thettiyar. Hence in my old blogs I had missed it. But now realising what a grave mistake it was, given the hazardous status of the river and its tributaries, maily the vallathodu. If Parvathy puthanar and Killiyar are like patients in critical care unit, Thettiyar is almost at the exit of CCU, between the CCU and morgue
(http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2016/oct/12/from-pristine-to-stinking-1527060--1.html) .
Traces of thettiyar (green, blue and violet lines)
Thettiyar ending at the akkulam lake
Thettiyar through technopark
(one of the few places where it is visible, but still not free of wastes, on map)
Interestingly, rather astonishingly, the water body originates at thiruvananthapuram's largest pond anathazhchira (an elephant is said to have drowned here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCpQN4O1j-o), has many tributaries which lie inside and outside the acclaimed Technocity campus, flowing through Technopark, Infosys and finally meeting the Arabian sea through Veli lake. It was a river which, once up on a time, served all needs of the places Kazhakkuttam, Andoorkonam and Pothencode. It is alarming to see that the river is very hard to spot in a satellite map of the city; needless to say, the tributaries have vanished. Well, earlier we were contaminating destinations, now origins of these rivulets too. The 11 acres (estimated to be originally 30 acres) pond near the origins of thettiyar was recently revived, cleaned up and dredged and has an intake well by Kerala Water
Authority to provide drinking water facility
(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/revived-pond-to-help-kwa-fight-drought/articleshow/57258968.cms).
Authority to provide drinking water facility
(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/revived-pond-to-help-kwa-fight-drought/articleshow/57258968.cms).
Above: Anathazhchira today
Above: Anathazhchira 14 years back
Above: anathazhchira pond post revival
Vallathodu pond (was a big lake-like water body) and the generated tributaries of Thettiyar are now septic tanks and industrial waste deposit bins that house carcinogenic materials such as glass wool and inlets to drainage pipes carrying sewage from the offices and apartment complexes around (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/281017/technopark-dirties-vallathode-pond-thettiyar-canal.html , http://www.newsdog.today/a/article/57e8237b129071049b17d349/).
Above: Status of Thettiyar in technopark premises (courtesy: http://www.newsdog.today/)
Above: Vallathodu ... another garbage bin ...
Exploitation of the river is not new. Another interesting story is there too. Water is being taken away from thettiyar as per the article on the Hindu in 2005, i.e a dozen years back. No wonder the river is in a pathetic stage now (http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/20/stories/2005032014690300.htm).
Above: a pump installed at thettiyar to exploit the river (courtesy:the Hindu)
(http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/techies-bid-to-clean-up-thettiyar/article17766079.ece),
and CETians who organised a cycle rally in september 2017 (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/pedalling-to-raise-awareness-for-river-conservation/articleshow/60750594.cms) to propagate the need of saving water bodies including thettiyar. But most such moves have lost their charm.
In the recent days thettiyar and vallathodu have again gained attention of media (http://www.mathrubhumi.com/tv/ReadMore/38891/water-pollution1/E, , http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/clean-thettiyar-drive-tomorrow/article17748259.ece). An alarming rise in population of sucker fish has been reported on many waterbodies (they can survive without water for a day or even in waste water), including thettiyar (http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/offbeat/alarming-rise-in-sucker-fish-population-threatens-native-fishes-aquatic-biology-1.2119747).
Above: What else can a river converted to patches of water do?
Concluding
Civilizations evolved alongside rivers, they exploited the rivers and grew up more or less like many 'modern' children. Once the civilisations flourished, they abandoned the rivers and other wetlands, left them to slow death like many of these people do to their parents now a days. But can we ever really survive without our parents and, can we harm them? If not, why do we harm or abandon mother nature? The rivers and the ecosystem are now in a state of a patient having being subjected to all sort of treatments for infections and kept in ventilator, hoping for miracles to happen.
Smart city will not be complete if the blue network is ignored. This network, and and not roads, along with wetlands is the real artery that sustains us. We need to act, stop dumping wastes, stop people from doing so and put a full stop to encroachments and sand mining. Better still, the authorities have to recuperate and revive the land the rivers had lost. Ribbon development of any nature shall be strictly prohibited. These water bodies are to be made flowing unhindered and well used for navigation, with transfer points as necessitated by the cross constructions like check dams. They can further be connected to the thodus (nullahs) and thus a dream of inland water transport for the smart city can be realised, with proper planning and systematic execution, and, of course, not without cooperation from the end users, the public.
Cyclones and other natural disasters can't be prevented; but we definitely can minimise their impact, especially flooding, if we give our water bodies due consideration. Just thinking how much water and rich top soil has been flown down the drains, while taking precious lives too.
Courtesy for all satellite imagery: Google earth
Cyclones and other natural disasters can't be prevented; but we definitely can minimise their impact, especially flooding, if we give our water bodies due consideration. Just thinking how much water and rich top soil has been flown down the drains, while taking precious lives too.
Courtesy for all satellite imagery: Google earth
Special acknowledgement: Sri. K. Murukeshan, Ex. employee, Corporation of Trivandrum; a few discussions with who gave me awareness on the past of the city, especially on the Travancore State Manual, and which in fact put me in to writing these blogs on smart city.
Special mention on the articles by Dr. Achuth Sankar S. Nair, which I came across in the process of preparing this blog. link here for reference: And quiet Flows Karamana River article series
In case I have missed mentioning sources of any image or texts used in this blog, kindly let me know. This blog would be periodically updated.
Please feel free to give your comments or suggestions. They would definitely help me improve my blogs.
