Protest is mounting against the extraction of large quantities of water from the Tejaswini river at Mukkada and supplying it to seven local bodies in Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
The proposed Trikkaripur adjoining panchayat drinking water project of the Kerala Water Authority envisages drawing water from the Tejaswini and supplying it to Kariverllur-Peralam and Kankol-Alapadamba panchayats in Kannur and five panchayats in Kasaragod.
According to the protesters, the project proposes to extract around 20 million litres of water a day (MLD), with the quantity expected to cross 30 MLD in March and April. They fear that the river does not have sufficient flow to sustain such extraction, particularly during the summer, and that the extraction could aggravate water scarcity in the region.
Action committee coordinator M. Chandran said the opposition was not against supplying drinking water to people but against extracting a substantial quantity of water from the Tejaswini without first establishing through a scientific study whether the river could sustain it.
“The river does not have the flow required to support the proposed extraction, especially during the summer months. A scientific assessment of the flow of the river and water availability is essential before the project is taken forward,” Mr. Chandran said.
He added that the river already had reduced flow during summer, and that large-scale extraction could affect the availability of water in the downstream areas. The proposed withdrawal has raised particular concern among residents of Kayyur Cheemeni and Kinanoor-Karindalam.
The committee said water was already being drawn from the river for the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala, while drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission were also being implemented in Kankol-Alapadamba and Kayyur-Cheemeni panchayat.
“The issue is not simply the quantity proposed to be extracted under one project. The cumulative requirements of different schemes and their impact on the river and groundwater, particularly in coastal areas, should be scientifically assessed,” said K. Suresh, another committee member.
He said the project-related work had begun without consultation with residents and adequate scientific assessment. Even large-diameter pipelines had already been brought to the site, and work on a major tank had begun at Pallippara. Residents here have demanded that further work be stopped, and that the project be reconsidered unless a comprehensive study establishes that the river could sustain the proposed withdrawal without adversely affecting downstream availability.
The committee organised a human chain near Mukkada bridge recently against the project. It has decided to submit memoranda to the MLAs of Trikaripur and Kanhangad and the Kasaragod District Collector.
However, KWA project division assistant engineer Subin told The Hindu that a study had been conducted, and that the project had been designed taking into account the available flow and storage.
He added the Palayi regulator has 4.49 million cubic metres of stored water, while the project would require about 1.8 MCM over 60 days at 20 MLD.
“The proposed 20 MLD is also the ultimate design capacity for 2050 and does not mean that the entire quantity would necessarily be drawn continuously from the river from the beginning,” he said.
He added that the project envisages drawing up to 20 MLD from the river.
The project is estimated to cost ₹400 crore with around 9,000 km of distribution network planned to provide connections to around 26,000 households. The project has a March 2028 deadline, linked to the availability of Central government funding.
“Delay could result in the remaining financial liability falling on the State,” he said.
Published – September 29, 2026 09:45 pm IST
