Bharathapuzha River, Origin, Geographical Features, Projects

Bharathapuzha River is also known as Nila River, Ponnani River, Perar RIver and Kuttippuram River. It is the second longest river flowing through Kerala, with a total length of about 209 km. It is an important interstate river of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and flows through the Palakkad Gap, the widest break in the Western Ghats. The river supports agriculture, culture and daily life across Palakkad and Malappuram districts and parts of Thrissur, Coimbatore and Tiruppur. Its basin is spread over 6,186 sq km, making it the largest river basin in Kerala.

Bharathapuzha River Geographical Features

Bharathapuzha River originates from the Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu and flows westward through the Palakkad Gap before draining into the Arabian Sea at Ponnani.

• Origin and Course: The river begins as small streams near Thirumoorthy Hills in the Anamalai range, flows northward initially, then turns west across Palakkad and Malappuram, finally meeting the Arabian Sea at the Ponnani estuary.
• Length and Basin Area: With a length of 209 km, Bharathapuzha has a drainage basin of 6,186 sq km, of which around 4,400 sq km lies in Kerala and 1,786 sq km in Tamil Nadu.
• Palakkad Gap Influence: The Palakkad Gap allows dry continental winds to enter Kerala, making the river basin comparatively drier, which directly reduces water availability despite the large basin size.
• Tributaries: Important tributaries include Kannadipuzha, Kalpathipuzha, Gayathripuzha and Thuthapuzha, with Thuthapuzha significantly increasing river width and flow after joining near Pallippuram.
• Rainfall and Climate Influence: The basin receives 2,000-2,800 mm rainfall in hilly areas and up to 3,000 mm near the coast, but high temperatures and rain shadow effects limit year round flow.

Bharathapuzha River Projects

Bharathapuzha River is one of the most heavily regulated rivers in Kerala, with multiple dams and irrigation projects built after independence.

• Reservoirs: There are 11 reservoirs across the river system, including Malampuzha, Walayar, Mangalam, Pothundi, Meenkara, Chulliyar, Thirumoorthy, Aliyar, Upper Aliyar, Chitturpuzha regulator and Kanjirapuzha dam.
• Malampuzha Dam: Malampuzha is the largest reservoir in the basin and plays a critical role in irrigating Palakkad district, supporting paddy cultivation in one of Kerala’s main food producing regions.
• Irrigation Coverage: Existing irrigation projects support about 773 sq km of agricultural land, mainly for paddy, coconut and vegetable farming across Palakkad and Malappuram districts.
• Ongoing Developments: Two additional irrigation projects under construction are expected to increase the irrigated area by around 542 sq km, strengthening water security in drought prone regions.
• Thrithala Regulator-cum-Bridge: This project has a shutter height of 5 meters, improves drinking water storage, reduces travel distance between Thrissur and Kozhikode by 11 km and has revived summer fish populations.

‹ ›

Bharathapuzha River Threats

Bharathapuzha River faces severe environmental stress due to human activities, climatic changes and unsustainable resource use as highlighted below:

• Reduced Summer Flow: Due to extensive dam construction and dry catchment areas, many stretches of the river almost dry up during summer months, affecting drinking water and agriculture.
• Sand Mining Impact: Large scale sand mining over the past three decades removed ancient sand beds, destabilized riverbanks, lowered groundwater levels and altered the natural flow pattern of the river.
• Vegetation Overgrowth: Loss of sand has allowed grasses and bushes to grow within the river channel, obstructing flow and increasing the risk of course alteration during monsoon floods.
• Water Pollution: Untreated waste from hospitals, households and urban settlements has reduced water quality, making many stretches unsuitable for drinking and domestic use.
• Climate Variability: Studies show declining annual rainfall and rising temperatures in the basin, further reducing water availability and intensifying seasonal drought conditions.

Bharathapuzha River Conservation Measures

Several conservation efforts and proposed measures aim to restore ecological balance and long term sustainability of the Bharathapuzha River:

• Regulated Sand Mining: Experts recommend strict regulation instead of total bans, ensuring limited, monitored extraction and allocating a portion of sand mining revenue for river restoration activities.
• Waste Management Controls: Enforcing strict waste treatment rules for hospitals, hotels and households is essential to prevent direct discharge of pollutants into the river system.
• Riverbank Afforestation: Planting banyan, jackfruit, teak and mango trees along riverbanks can improve groundwater recharge, reduce erosion and enhance summer base flow.
• Mangrove Development: Mangroves near estuarine stretches act as natural barriers against erosion, support fish breeding and stabilize riverbanks near the Ponnani mouth.
• Community Initiatives: Groups like Bharathapuzha Samrakshana Samithi and Friends of Bharathapuzha, led by E. Sreedharan, work to raise awareness, promote conservation and protect the river from further degradation.