The Karumalloor barge has become lodged near the Karumalloor Number One lift-irrigation pump house on the Periyar, disrupting the movement of water hyacinth and raising concerns that irrigation operations could stop, according to a report by Mathrubhumi.
The barge is lying close to the riverbank near the pump house in Karumalloor. Its presence has trapped floating vegetation carried downstream from the east, causing hyacinth to accumulate around the section from which the pump house draws water. The buildup has also covered the bathing ghat at the nearby Narannath Temple.
Farmers and the pump operator noticed the obstruction during an inspection of the water-collection area. The barge was found leaning against branches of a fallen or overhanging golden shower tree close to the river. The report said the riverbank in the area is overgrown, which had allowed the obstruction to remain unnoticed.
The barge appears to be the type used for construction work in rivers, including bridge-related projects. It is not known whether it drifted to the location or was abandoned there, and local residents have not been able to identify its owner. The report did not identify any authority or contractor as responsible for the vessel.
The accumulation of hyacinth is affecting the operation of the lift-irrigation facility, farmers said. If the barge and the vegetation are not removed, the pump house could stop functioning, leaving agricultural fields in the Karumalloor-Thattampady area without water.
Around 300 acres are under cultivation in the Karumalloor paddy fields, according to the report. Farmers have warned that a stoppage in irrigation could cause significant crop losses. The lift-irrigation scheme is therefore serving as a direct link between the Periyar and the functioning of the local agricultural area, making the obstruction more than a navigational or riverbank issue.
The obstruction could also pose a risk to the nearby regulator-cum-bridge if the river develops a strong flow, the report said. A heavier current could push the barge into the structure.
Farmers and residents have asked the owner, if identified, to remove the barge. They have also urged the irrigation department to take steps to clear it if no owner comes forward. The immediate requested action is the removal of the vessel and the accumulated vegetation so that the pump house can continue supplying water to the surrounding farmland.
