Environmentalists have raised serious concerns over the large-scale encroachment along the banks of the Valapattanam river near Kattampally bridge in Chirakkal grama panchayat in Kannur.
Allegations are rife that private landowners are illegally extending their properties by filling the riverbanks with construction debris, including concrete, plastics, glass, and other waste materials. It is reportedly aimed at constructing a road through Poramboke (government-owned) land, which may cause severe environmental degradation in the ecologically sensitive area.
The Kattampally wetland, which falls under Coastal Regulation Zone -1 and is designated as Kerala’s fourth Ramsar site, serves as a vital habitat for diverse wildlife, including numerous species of migratory birds.
“The continued destruction of mangroves and wetland in this area is unacceptable. This is a blatant violation of environmental laws, and we demand the immediate intervention of the authorities,” P. Dharman, convener of the regional environmental committee of the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), said.
According to the KSSP representative, similar attempts were made in 2021, when encroachers tried to construct a 150-metre-long road in the same area. “Back then, the KSSP intervened, and with the support of the authorities, the road construction could be halted. Stop memos were issued, and a protest march was organised, demanding the demarcation of riverbanks from Valappattanam to Kakkad,” Mr. Dharman said.
However, despite such measures, encroachment has continued unabated. The illegal road has now been extended beyond 200 metres, significantly altering the landscape, he added.
Meanwhile, the Forest department, which has jurisdiction over protected areas, expressed limitations in intervening effectively in the matter as the disputed land belongs to private parties.
Responding to growing concerns, a delegation of the KSSP’s regional environment committee conducted an on-site inspection. The visit reaffirmed the ongoing destruction of mangroves and highlighted the urgent need for government intervention.
Since digital survey has been done, a clear demarcation to identify government land will not be difficult, a KSSP member said.
