Sullia: During the last monsoon, due to floods and landslides in Jodupala and Monnangeri, the Payaswini river was filled with silt, sand and soil. The river was flowing with murky red water for nearly one and a half months. The sand and silt have filled all the pits and crevices of the river bed. Due to this, the river bed has come up which will lead to floods if the river flows to its full capacity this monsoon.
Starting from Monnangeri, Koyanadu, Sampaje, Oorubailu, Chembu, Kallugundi, Aranthodu and Peraje areas, the river bed is filled with silt. During the last monsoon, when the river was full, the water rushed to the nearby farmlands. Many bridges were damaged.
Now that the river bed has come up due to silt the people living near the river were anxious about the flood water washing away the entire area.
Even though the river flooded during the monsoons, the locals were finding it difficult to get water during summer as the silt had covered all the pits in the river where the water would otherwise store. The farmers were earlier installing pump sets in the water holes in the river bed for irrigation. Now that the silt has covered these holes, the farmers are not able to draw water for their farms.
The public has urged the administration to clear the silt from the river to prevent it from flooding during monsoon and also from drying during summer.
According to the geologists, the river bed has 10 to 15 feet silt in some places and in some other places, it is 6 to 7 feet.
Geologist Ananya Vasudev opined that if the river floods during this monsoon or if there is any landslide, there is a danger of the river changing its course causing huge damage to the people and property in the nearby areas.
