Munnar floods: Move to clear river encroachment

Idukki: The revenue department has decided to clear all illegal constructions in the river banks of Munnar. The Munnar town got submerged in flood waters for two consecutive years.

Devikulam sub-collector Renu Raj has directed Munnar tahsildar to prepare the number of illegal buildings in the river banks of Muthirappuzha River.

In the recent rains, the Muthirapuzha River had flooded, inundating most parts of the Munnar town. Many houses and shops were also submerged and families were shifted to relief camps.

The revenue department has pointed that unauthorized constructions in the river banks resulted in the flooding.

“A detailed report will be submitted to district collector regarding the illegal constructions,” said Raj.

The revenue department also decided to restrict construction activities in the river banks of Munnar. It was on last August flood that the Muthirappuzha River had flooded and Munnar town was submerged for many days.

Meanwhile, water level in the Idukki dam continued to increase and touched 46.52% (2,350.70 ft) of the storage level on Saturday afternoon. The water level in Mullaperiyar dam was 131.00 ft on Saturday.