Mayor reviews Kallayi river rejuvenation work; 25% desilting completed

The rejuvenation of the Kallayi river is making progress, with over 25% of the desilting work completed so far.

A team led by Mayor O. Sadasivan visited the site on Friday morning (March 13) to assess the progress of the project. Fishermen have demanded that desilting be carried out over a wider stretch near the Kothi estuary.

At present, desilting is being carried out over a width of 90 metres at the Kothi estuary. However, the river has a width of up to 120 metres in some stretches. Fishermen said the work would be effective only if desilting was carried out in areas where boats were usually anchored as well. The inspection was conducted following this demand.

A meeting of the Kozhikode Corporation Council held later in the evening agreed to sanction additional funds for the work.

The project involves removing silt to a depth of 2.7 metres along a 4.2-kilometre stretch from Kothi to Kaduppini in Mankavu. The dredged silt is being deposited in the sea up to five kilometres away. The work is being carried out by the Irrigation department at a cost of ₹12.98 crore allocated by the Corporation.

Although the project was inaugurated on October 22, 2024, the actual work began only on February 27, 2025, after the survey was completed. The work was later halted during the monsoon season and resumed in October. Desilting is being carried out using a dredger and an excavator. Another barge will arrive in the next couple of days from Mumbai, which is expected to accelerate the work.

West Coast Dredging Company is carrying out the desilting work. Officials said they expected the entire project to be completed by May 31, 2026. The work is currently progressing around the clock. If the work is not completed by the end of May, it cannot continue once the monsoon begins.

The silt accumulation in the river has disrupted its natural flow, which has, in turn, affected the Conolly canal that drains into it. The river was recently deemed the most polluted in the State, with its waters blackened by industrial effluents and decaying garbage. The silt buildup is particularly noticeable during low tides.