Wayanad landslides: Cabinet nod to remove debris accumulated in the Punnapuzha river

26 Jun 2025 GS 1 Geography
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Wayanad landslides: Cabinet nod to remove debris accumulated in the Punnapuzha river Click toview full image

Punnapuzha River:

  • A tributary of the Chaliyar River.

  • Flows through parts of Kerala in South India.

Chaliyar River of Kerala 

Basic Facts:

  • Other Names: Chulika River, Nilambur River, Beypore River

  • Length: 169 km (4th longest in Kerala)

  • States/Districts: Flows through Malappuram and Kozhikode districts

  • Final Destination: Empties into the Arabian Sea at Beypore Port, near Chaliyam Harbour

Origin & Course:

  • Origin: Ilambaleri Hills, Nilgiri Mountains (near Wayanad–Malappuram border)

  • Course:

    • Flows primarily southward through Malappuram district

    • Forms part of the district boundary with Kozhikode for ~17 km

    • Final 10 km: Flows through Kozhikode city before reaching Lakshadweep Sea via an azhi (estuary)

Major Towns Along the River:

  • Upstream: Nilambur, Mampad, Perakamanna

  • Midstream: Areekode, Vazhakkad, Cheruvadi, Kavanoor

  • Downstream: Mavoor, Feroke, Beypore

Tributaries:

  • Major Streams:

    • Punnapuzha

    • Chaliyarpuzha

    • Kanjirapuzha

    • Karimpuzha

    • Iruvahnipuzha

    • Thottumukkampuzha

  • Other Tributaries: Kurumanpuzha, Pandipuzha, Maradipuzha, Kuthirapuzha, Karakkodupuzha

  • Origin of tributaries: Nilgiri Hills (east) and Wayanad Hills (north)

Waterfalls Near the Source:

  • Meenmutty Falls:

    • Near Vaduvanchal, Wayanad

    • One of the highest waterfalls in Kerala

    • Acts as a primary source of the Chaliyar

  • Soochipara Falls:

    • Located in Chullikka River (tributary of Chaliyar)

    • Known for its three-tiered drop and scenic forests

Ecological & Economic Significance:

  • Natural Gold Fields:

    • Found in Nilambur valley

    • Estimated 2.5 million cubic meters of placer deposits with 0.1 g/m³ of gold

  • Historical Timber Trade Route:

    • Timber (especially teak and rosewood) transported from Nilambur to Kallai during monsoon using river rafts

    • Kallai (Kozhikode) was a global timber hub in the 19th–20th century

  • Pollution & Environmental Action:

    • Pulp factory at Mavoor caused major river pollution

    • K. A. Rahman led the cleanup agitation (1999), forming the Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithi

Key Features:

  • Does not dry up in the dry season (unlike many Kerala rivers)

  • Important for biodiversity, local livelihoods, and inland navigation



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