To revive a Kerala river which has been turned into a garbage dump, a group of environmental and social activists recently took recourse of public fast to bring citizens’ attention to the river that is left to die.
The Kakkad river of Kerala is facing threat from large-scale dumping of waste, especially waste from the slaughter houses. Elders say that it is now just a shadow of what it was decades ago. Encroachments on its banks and path have also accelerated the near demise of the river. Though environmental organisations in the Kannur district have taken up the cause of reviving and protecting the river, it continues to be treated as a garbage dump.
But, on the Republic Day the activists from various organisations came together to stage to a fast on the river bank to highlight their demands that included steps to restore the natural flow of the river. Their initiative succeeded to some extent in drawing public attention to the condition of the Kakkad river which is now mostly stagnant.
The activists urged the authorities to urgently take steps to clear it of accumulated waste and restore river’s natural flow. They also demanded action against encroachments blocking the flow of river and adding waste into it.
