Chalakudy River
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2012) |
| Chalakudy River | |
|---|---|
 Chalakudy bank on a summer sunrise | |
 Chalakudy River Basin Map | |
| Native name | ചാലക്കുടി പുഴ (Malayalam) |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| City | Chalakudy town |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Anamalai Hills |
| • location | Kerala/Tamil Nadu Border, India |
| • coordinates | 10°22′00″N 77°07′30″E / 10.3666°N 77.125°E |
| • elevation | 1,250 m (4,100 ft) |
| Mouth | Periyar River |
• location | Puthanvelikkara, Kerala, India |
• coordinates | 10°09′44″N 76°15′56″E / 10.162224°N 76.26558°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 145.5 km (90.4 mi) |
| Basin size | 1,704 km2 (658 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 52 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Karappara River, Kuriarkutty Aar, Peruvarippallam Aar, Thunacadavu Aar, Sholayar River |
Chalakudy River or Chalakudy Puzha is the fifth longest river in Kerala, India. The river flows through Thrissur district, Palakkad district and Ernakulam district of Kerala. The total drainage area of the river is 1704 km2. Out of this, 1404 km2 lies in Kerala and the rest in Tamil Nadu. The length of the river is 145.5 km. Though Chalakudy River in strict geological sense is a tributary of the Periyar river, for all practical purposes it is treated as a separate river by Government and other agencies. The river has gained its name since it flows along the banks of the Chalakudy Town, the major settlement along the course of the river. It is perhaps the most unpolluted and pristine river in the state and even in India due to the limited amount of industries and wastage disposal around it.[citation needed] Chalakudy River and its basin area were one of the most affected rivers during the 2018 Kerala floods.[1]
Origin
[edit]Though the river has its origin in the Anamalai region of Tamil Nadu, it is actually a collection of some major tributaries originated from Parambikulam, Kuriyarkutti, Sholayar, Karapara and Anakayam in Kerala.
Riparian vegetation
[edit]_from_the_Chalakudy_River,_Kerala.jpg)
Chalakudy River is the one of very few rivers of Kerala with relics of riparian vegetation in substantial level. The major threat has been submergence due to reservoirs.[2] The annual report of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Lucknow, mentioned that the Chalakudy River is the richest river in fish diversity perhaps in India. The riparian forests of the Chalakudy River have revealed the existence of a thick riparian vegetation of more than 10 metres width for a distance of 10.5 km downstream from Peringalkuth, covering an area of 58.5 hectares. Out of this, 26.4 hectares lie within the Vazachal area, including three large islands densely covered by riparian forests.[3] The riparian forests of the area have been found to be characterised by the presence of typical riparian species of plants, in addition to evergreen and semi-evergreen species. Out of the 319 species of flowering plants identified from the study area, 24 are endemic species of the Western Ghats and 10 are rare and endangered.[4]
Fauna
[edit]
The Chalakudy River is known for its diversity, as it contains 98 species of fresh water fish[5] out of the 152 species known from Kerala.[6] Among these, 35 are endemic species of the Western Ghats[6] and 31 are either vulnerable (11 species), endangered (16 species), or critically endangered (4 species) from indiscriminate collection for the aquarium fish trade, overfishing, pollution, dams and introduced species.[5] According to a report of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow, Chalakudy could well be the richest river in fish diversity in India, with thick vegetation on both sides.[7] Among the fish species in the river, the most species rich family are the Cyprinids, followed by Bagrid catfishes and hillstream loaches.[5] Among others, Horabagrus nigricollaris and Sahyadria chalakkudiensis are endemic to the Chalakudy River.[8][9]
Waterfalls
[edit]
The famous waterfalls, Athirappilly Falls and Vazhachal Falls, are situated on this river. The hydro electric projects on Chalakkudy River are Sholayar Hydro Electric Project and Peringalkuttu Hydro Electric Project. For irrigation purposes Thumboormoozhy Dam is constructed across this river. It merges with the Periyar River near Elenthikara, adjacent to Manjali, North Paravur in Ernakulam District and finally Joins Kodungallur Backwaters and Join Arabian sea at Azhekode. The Parambikulam Dam has been built on the Parambikulam River, one of its four tributaries.[10]
Though officially the flood was most severe on 16 August 2018, the banks of the Chalakudy River started flooding from the early hours of 15 August 2018 due to unusually high rainfall during the monsoon season. All the streams, low-lying areas and agricultural fields in the river's proximity was flooded already and the river was correcting the meandering curves created through its centuries of history. All the towns and villages within 5 km of the river were flooded except the slightly high hill tops. It was the worst flood in Chalakudy in nearly a century. The Indian government had declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or "calamity of a severe nature". It is the worst flood in Kerala after the great flood of 99 that took place in 1924.[clarification needed]
Aftermath of the floods
[edit]
The aftermath of the flood was very severe as it changed the overall outlook of the riverway from the mountains to the river mouth. Large areas of the river banks collapsed and caved in due to the powerful currents in the floods and new banks were created as a result. Huge trees along in the course were uprooted and deposited all along its flow especially on the bridges. Many road bridges even got displaced by a few cm due to the water's force like the Vettilapara Bridge. Also the fauna in the river was greatly affected as the indigenous fish species were displaced from their natural habitats. To make things worse, foreign species were introduced into the river system from the nearby fish farms that had hundreds of varieties of aquarium fishes like the Arapaima, Arowana, Piranha, Alligator Gar, Flowerhorn cichlid, and Red-bellied Pacu.[11] After the floods, an Arapaima of 65 kg, which was grown in a local farm as a tourist attraction, was caught from the Chalakudy river. It is the largest freshwater invasive fish found in Kerala.[12]
Panorama
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Studies on the nature and chemistry of sediments and water of Periyar and Chalakudy Rivers, Kerala, India by Maya K." (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2005.
- ^ Amitha Bachan K.H. and Devika M.A. 2020. Impact of Dams on Riparian Vegetation: A case study in the Chalakkudy River, Western Ghats, India. Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries (8) 7-13. http://keralamarinelife.in/Journals/Vol8-S/2-Bachan&Devika.pdf
- ^ "Riparian vegetation under threat". The Hindu. 7 September 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Amitha Bachan K.H. riparian flora of the Chalakkudy River basin and Its Ecological Significance. PhD Thesis. University of Calicut, Kerala
- ^ a b c Raghavan, R., G. Prasad, P. H. Anvar Ali, B. Pereira (2008). Fish fauna of Chalakudy River, part of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, Kerala, India: patterns of distribution, threats and conservation needs. Biodiversity and Conservation 17(13): 3119-3131
- ^ a b Ajithkumar, C.R., K.R. Devi, and K.R. Thomas (1999). Fish fauna, abundance and distribution in Chalakudy river system, Kerala. Journal of the Bombay Natural.
- ^ "The seven faces of a river". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Horabagrus nigricollaris". FishBase. September 2016 version.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Sahyadria chalakkudiensis". FishBase. September 2016 version.
- ^ "About the Rivers of Kerala". Retrieved 2 November 2006.
- ^ "Invasive Fishes in Kerala". Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Arapaima Fish in Kerala". 16 August 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
External links
[edit]
- "Infobox facts". All Kerala River Protection Council. Retrieved 30 January 2006.
- Study of rivers in Kerala
- Chalakudy River Protection Forum
- Chalakudy Puzha Samrakshana Samithi
- Dam Has Kerala Greens Up In Arms, Sep 22, 2007, Tehelka Magazine
