Even as World Water Day was observed across the globe on Friday, the Kozhikode District River Protection Committee accused various government departments of maintaining double standards with regard to protection of major waterbodies.
“Those who organise World Water Day programmes are the ones who support the land mafia that encroach upon rivers. The renovation of the Kallayi river and the Conolly canal has remained on paper for decades,” said Faisal Pallikkandy, general secretary of the committee.
Encroachment is widespread and blatant on the banks of most rivers in the district such as Iruvazhinji, Poonoor, Chaliyar, and Mampuzha, besides the Kallayi river. However, local residents do not dare to complain to the authorities for fear of the encroachment mafia. “Information about complaints often reach encroachers from the village or panchayat office within minutes. Complainants often face life threats and pressure to withdraw complaints from the mafia,” said Mr. Pallikkandy.
