Check dams a death knell for Kerala rivers: conservationist

Structures will accelerate floods, cause changes in water flow: Rajendra Singh

Rajendra Singh, water conservationist and Magsaysay award winner, has said that the check dams being constructed across rivers in the State would sound the death knell for the rivers.

Interacting with a group of students and environmentalists in the district at a debate organised by the Pazhassi library at Mananthavady on Friday, Dr. Rajendra Singh said the construction of check dams across rivers in a State like Kerala, which experienced heavy rainfall, was unscientific.

“Check dams are needed across rivers in States like Gujarat and Rajasthan as the rainfall is very low in those States,” Dr. Singh said, adding that the check dam across the Kabani and its tributaries were constructed without any scientific study.