The Union government has moved to bring Kerala Pampa River under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), a flagship initiative aimed at safeguarding major rivers across the country.
According to Kodikunnil Suresh MP, the Union Ministry for Jal Shakti has asked the state government to submit a detailed report, which will form the basis for its inclusion. He noted that the Pampa deep association with the Sabarimala pilgrimage and major religious gatherings such as Maramon and Cherukolpuzha conventions lends it a sanctity comparable to the Ganga.
Pollution and Riverbank Erosion Raise Concerns
The MP said large-scale waste dumping and riverbank degradation remain serious challenges. “Inclusion under the NRCP will provide a major boost, with central funding for wastewater management, waste removal, purification plants and construction of river walls,” he added. Technical assistance for conservation measures will also be extended to local bodies.
Chengannur municipal chairperson Sobha Varghese highlighted that erosion poses one of the biggest threats to the river. “Every rainy season, several stretches of the riverbank are washed away due to the absence of retaining walls. NRCP support will help strengthen protection efforts,” she said.
Key Features of the Pampa
•Kerala’s third-longest river, stretching 176 km
•Originates from Pulachimalai hill in the Peermade plateau at an altitude of 5,410 ft
•Basin area of 2,235 sq km with 14 tributaries
•Flows through Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Alappuzha districts
•Covers around 30 panchayats and Chengannur municipality
Although a proposal for a Pampa River Basin Authority was shelved earlier, conservationists hope that NRCP inclusion will revive efforts to safeguard the river’s ecological and cultural legacy.