Irrigation Department plans to restart dredging in Korapuzha river after protests paused work back in February 2026. Residents,political parties had cried foul over alleged illegal sand extraction under guise of dredging, meant to clear silt and sediments .
District Collector M.S. Madhavikutty led a meeting with local MLAs Vidya Balakrishnan and K. Praveen Kumar to discuss next steps. Balakrishnan promised dredging would resume with input from locals,protesters . First phase targets a 1-kilometer stretch from Korapuzha railway bridge. Work at estuary comes later.
Started in 2022,this project aims to remove 200,000 cubic meters of silt,smooth water flow to sea. Accumulation not only blocks fishing boats but also worsens flooding in nearby areas,shrinking river capacity.
Dredging will cut 3.5 meters below sea level,spanning 100 to 140 meters wide over a 1,600-meter stretch east of estuary. Restarting project shows commitment to tackle both environmental issues,community needs . But will it satisfy everyone…?
