Reconnaissance Survey Report Sand Auditing of Periyar River, Ernakulam District
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RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY REPORT SAND AUDITING OF PERIYAR RIVER, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT Submitted to River Management Centre Institute of Land and Disaster Management (ILDM) June 2019 Conducted by: TROPICAL INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES (TIES) Ecological Research Campus, Velloor P.O., Kottayam 686 501. Kerala. India. www.ties.org.in. 09497290339; [email protected] RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY REPORT SAND AUDITING OF PERIYAR RIVER, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT Submitted to River Management Centre Institute of Land and Disaster Management(ILDM) June 2019 Conducted by: TROPICAL INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGICAL SCIENCES (TIES) Ecological Research Campus, Velloor P.O., Kottayam 686 501. Kerala. India. www.ties.org.in. 09497290339; [email protected] SAND AUDITING OF PERIYAR RIVER ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, KERALA PROJECT TEAM Sl.No. Position Name Qualification 1 Project Manager Dr. Punnen Kurian M.Sc Zoology 2 Project Head & Team Binil Baby M.Sc Marine Geophysics Leader 3 Field Officer Jain P. Abraham Civil Engineering Diploma 4 Field Assistant Midhin Mani ITI Survey 5 Field Assistant Rahul Krishnan R ITI Survey 1 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Background of the Study ............................................................................................................................... 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Location and Extent of River Basin ............................................................................................................... 5 Basic Details .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Geology ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Geomorphology ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Climate .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Soils ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Hydrology and Discharge ........................................................................................................................ 11 Socio Economic Characteristics of the Basin .............................................................................................. 11 Landmarks ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Ecosystems and Ecological sensitive areas ................................................................................................. 13 Sand Mining Kadavus .................................................................................................................................. 14 Planning ofSand Auditing field survey ........................................................................................................ 15 Verification and Fixing of Panchayats ......................................................................................................... 15 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 15 Selected Reconaissance survey spots of Periyar River ............................................................................... 16 2 Introduction A river is a natural waterway on the Earth’s surface, which channels fresh water from the mountains to the sea. Rivers begin as small trickles of water up in the mountains. This is its source, and it eventually forms a small stream which then flows down the mountain. The water erodes the land, carving a bigger channel and forms the main river. Upstream areas are characterized by steep V-shaped valleys, waterfalls and fast flowing water among boulders and rocks. In the middle part, the river winds its way slowly through the flatter land, and continues to widen its channel by meandering and de[positing material that is too heavy to carry in the water. The present study aims to minimize the negative impact of sand mining and to maximize the health and functions of the river, thus to consume the river systems. Kerala’s second largest river, Periyar has its origin in the Sivagiri peaks (1830m MSL) of Sundaramala in Tamil Nadu. It traverses a length of 244 km, over rocky hills in a northerly direction. Its catchment area is 5389 sq km and the total utilizable yield of the river is 290.6 tmc ft, of which 226 tmc ft is from Tamil Nadu. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala. It generates a significant proportion of Kerala’s electrical power via Idukki dam and flows along a region of Industrial and commercial activity. Background of the Study The sand auditing programme is carried out by the Govt. of Kerala, in order to conserve our rivers with wise utilization. The Sand auditing of Periyar river Phase I has done by Centre for Socio- Economic and Environmental Studies (CSES) in 2014. From this Study 11 panchayats have sand deposit above summer water level. The present study intend to understand the current status of sand deposits in the Periyar river. As per the G.O (Ms) No.254/2019/RD dated 24.01.2019, TIES is entrusted with the sand auditing of Periyar river, in Ernakulam District for a phase II assessment of sand deposits in the river. 3 River Starting Point Ending Point Total length assigned for mapping Confluence of Deviyar Hanging Bridge near Muvattupuzha with Periyar near Inchalthotty 11 km Maniyampara Bhoothathankettu Aluva Railway Bridge 48 km Dam Total 59 km Table 1: Periyar river - Sanctioned river length for sand auditing (Phase I & Phase II) Panchayat Volume of Available Volume of Mineable Sand m3 Sand m3 Kavalangadu 183835.95 725.25 Keerampara 132316.16 0 Pindimana 0 0 Vengoor 20281.5 0 Koovapady 105238.71 121170.22 Okkal 1086923.61 28438.8 Perumbavoor 32227.91 1265.73 Muncipality Vazhakkulam 232331.37 286.88 Keezhmad 578867.82 54940.53 Aluva Municipality 97817.98 0 Adimaly 60145.52 725.25 Kuttampuzha 119318.43 0 Malayatoor Neeleswaram 89710.71 2351.19 Kalady 325997.936 4699.7 Kanjoor 910790.36 25291.7 Sreemoolanagaram 256777.53 0 Chengamanad 534602.87 54940.53 Total 4767184.36 185838.78 table 2 Panchayat wise sand deposit in Periyar river, Phase I 4 Methodology As per the MoU signed, the Reconnaissance Survey is completed in May 2019. Accordingly, a survey team consisting of project officer and 1 field officers visited the river during 2-5th, May 2019. They have traveled from the beginning point Maniyampara to Aluva Railway Bridge and covered the assigned length. They visited every location of some importance, conducted discussion with local people, approached village office, Panchayat office and other Government Departments. The investigators collected available secondary data from various sources like Village offices, Panchayath offices, and recorded the names of roads, bridges etc., and took photographs of the area. Informal discussions with local community provided valuable information which would help in conducting the survey. Location and Extent of River Basin The drainage basin of the Periyar river spread over Idukki, Ernakualm districts of Central Kerala. The river basin lies between 09015’N to 10020’N and longitude 76010’E to 770 30’ E. District Taluk Panchayat Village Idukki Aluva Kavalangad Kuttampuzha Ernakualm Kothamangalam Keerampara Kuttamanaglam Pindimana Neriamangalam Kunnathunad Vengoor Keerampara Koovapady Vadakkum bhagam Okkal Kizhakkum bhagam Perumbavoor Municipality Aluva East Vazhakkulam Mattoor Keezhmad Kalady Aluva Municipality Chengamanad Adimaly Nedumpassery Kuttampuzha Pindimana Malayatoor Neeleswaram Thrikkariyoor Kalady Maramapilly Kanjoor Vazhakkulam Sreemoolanagaram Chovvara Chengamanad Table 3 List of Panchayats and Villages falling in the Periyar river basin Basic Details River Periyar, the longest of all the rivers in the state of Kerala and also the largest in potential, having a length of 244 km originates in the Sivagiri group of hills at an elevation of about 1830 m 5 above MSL. This river basin is the second largest basin of Kerala State with a drainage area of 5398 Sq Km of which 144 sq km in the Anamalai fold lies in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Periyar Basin lies between 09015’N to 10020’N and longitude 76010’E to 770 30’ E From its origin , Periyar traverses through an immense cliff of rocks in a northerly direction receiving several streamlets in its course. About 48 km downstream, the Mullayar joins the main river at an elevation of 854 m above MSL. Afterwards, the river flows westwards and at about 11 km downstream of the confluence of Mullayar and Periyar, the river passes through a narrow gorge, where the present Mullaperiyar Dam is constructed in 1895. The name Mullaperiyar is derived from a portmanteau of Mullayar and Periyar. Below the Mullaperiyar Dam, the river flows in a winding course taking a north westerly