Rejuvenation of the Kallayi River is progressing, with more than 25% of the desilting works completed so far.
A team led by Mayor O. Sadasivan visited the site on Friday morning (March 13) to review the progress of the project. The fishermen demanded that the desilting should be done in a wider stretch near the mouth of the Kothi.
A 90 meter wide desilting operation is currently underway at the mouth of the Kothi. However, the river is up to 120 meters wide in some sections. Fishermen said the work would only be effective if the dredging was done in areas where boats usually anchored as well. Based on this request, an inspection was carried out.
A meeting of the Kozhikode Corporation Board held later in the evening agreed to approve additional funds for the work.
The project involves removing silt to a depth of 2.7 meters on a 4.2 kilometer stretch from Kothi to Kaduppini in Mankavu. The dredged mud is deposited in the sea up to five kilometers away. The work is being done by the irrigation department at a cost of ₹ 12.98 crore allocated by the company.
Although the project was inaugurated on October 22, 2024, the actual work did not begin until February 27, 2025, after the survey was completed. The work was later stopped during the monsoon season and resumed in October. Desilting is done using a dredger and dredger. Another boat will arrive from Mumbai in the next few days, which should speed up the work.
West Coast Dredging Company is doing the dredging work. Officials said they expect the entire project to be completed by May 31, 2026. Work is currently ongoing around the clock. If the work is not completed by the end of May, it cannot continue once the monsoon begins.
The accumulation of silt in the river disrupted its natural flow, which in turn affected the Conolly Canal, which flows into it. The river was recently considered the most polluted in the state, its waters blackened by industrial effluents and decomposing garbage. Mud accumulation is particularly noticeable during low tide.
Published – 13 March 2026 19:31 IST
