Monsoon slows Kallayi river rejuvenation project

Despite the onset of the monsoon, the Kallayi river rejuvenation project is continuing, with around 55% of the desilting work completed so far.

The work was originally supposed to be completed by the end of May.

Irrigation department officials attributed the delay primarily to the continuous rainfall in May, which affected the pace of the dredging work. “We aimed to complete the project before the commencement of the monsoon. However, continuous rain in May slowed the progress. Despite the monsoon, the work is continuing, albeit at a slow pace. Although two barges are available, we have been able to deploy only one since the onset of the rainy season,” said an official.

The project involves removing silt to a depth of 2.7 metres along a 4.2-kilometre stretch from Kothi to Kaduppini in Mankavu. Of the 3.29 lakh cubic metres of silt expected to be removed, 70% has accumulated in and around the Kothi estuary. The dredged silt is being deposited in the sea up to five kilometres away. The work is being carried out at a cost of ₹12.98 crore allocated by the Kozhikode Corporation.

Although the project was inaugurated on October 22, 2024, the desilting work began only on February 27, 2025, after the completion of the survey. The work was later suspended during the monsoon and resumed in October 2025. West Coast Dredging Company is carrying out the desilting using dredgers, excavators and barges.

Silt accumulation in the river has disrupted its natural flow, affecting the Conolly canal, which drains into it. The river was recently identified as the most polluted in the State, with its waters blackened by industrial effluents and decaying waste. The silt buildup is particularly evident during low tide.