Kerala government’s big desilting push faces scrutiny over Chulliyar project in Palakkad
The Kerala government's initiative to desilt dams is facing scrutiny following allegations of financial and environmental irregularities at the Chulliyar dam project in Palakkad. Critics and NGOs allege that contract extensions and the waiver of geological royalties suggest collusion between officials and private contractors.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the tension between essential infrastructure maintenance and the potential for corruption and environmental degradation in public works projects.
As the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala plans large-scale desilting of dams and other waterbodies to enhance their carrying capacity and reduce flooding, one of the first such projects – the Chulliyar dam desilting project in Palakkad – has come under a cloud over allegations of irregularities in dredging and transportation of sediments, especially sand.
The project, undertaken during the previous LDF government’s tenure, has also attracted allegations of environmental damage, multiple contract extensions, and possible financial irregularities. Kavassery Krishna Kumar, director of the Right Foundation, an NGO, recently petitioned Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan seeking government intervention.
The Kerala High Court, meanwhile, has directed the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) to issue transit passes for transporting desilted material already stacked on the dam premises. The interim order was issued on August 3 on a petition filed by the contractor after the KIIDC stopped issuing passes.
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