Quarry slurry contaminates Cherupuzha, villages report unusable water
A slurry tank at a granite quarry and crusher unit in Thottumukkam, within Kodiyathur grama panchayat in Kozhikode district, recently burst and discharged waste into the Cherupuzha, residents and officials reported. The Cherupuzha is a significant tributary of the Chaliyar river and supplies multiple local drinking-water schemes.
Locals said the slurry, carrying large quantities of rock dust and crusher waste, changed the river's colour and made several water sources and bathing spots along both banks unusable. Some drinking-water schemes that draw directly from the Cherupuzha have also been affected, they said.
The incident has revived anger in communities that depend on the stream for daily needs. Protesters demanded immediate action and stringent measures against the quarry management. Residents noted the river has suffered similar pollution episodes in the past when quarry waste entered its upper reaches.
- Location: Thottumukkam, Kodiyathur grama panchayat, Kozhikode
- Waterbody affected: Cherupuzha (tributary of Chaliyar)
- Cause reported: Burst slurry tank at granite quarry and crusher unit
- Immediate impacts: Discoloured water, unusable drinking sources and bathing spots, community protests
- Official response: Kodiyathur panchayat to inspect the site
“We will conduct an inspection of the area on Wednesday (September 9), and further action will be taken after that,”
said a Kodiyathur panchayat official upon being informed of the contamination. The panchayat said it had already raised the matter with the quarry management and asked them to take steps to stop slurry from entering the river.
| Incident | Place | Next step announced |
|---|---|---|
| Slurry tank burst at quarry | Thottumukkam, Kodiyathur | Panchayat inspection scheduled (September 9) |
Environmental and public-health consequences from such discharges can be immediate and persistent: rock dust and slurry increase turbidity, harm aquatic life and can render raw water unsuitable for household use without treatment. While the panchayat has proposed an inspection, community representatives pressed for swift remediation of the polluted stretches and monitoring to prevent further discharges.
Residents appealed for prompt alternative arrangements for safe drinking water where schemes drawing from the Cherupuzha have been compromised. They also asked for clarity on liability, compensation and long-term safeguards so that the river can be protected from repeated contamination by quarry operations.
Quarrying and crushing operations in the upper reaches of small rivers and streams are a recurrent environmental challenge in the region. Locals said the current episode was not isolated, recalling earlier instances when waste from rock quarries entered the Cherupuzha and affected downstream communities.
The panchayat's inspection report, and any consequent regulatory or legal action against the quarry owners, will be closely watched by residents and environmental groups in Kozhikode. For now, users of water sources along the river have been advised not to use water from visibly contaminated points until authorities confirm safety.
The contamination has revived local debate on the adequacy of safeguards at mining and crusher units, and on the capacity of local institutions to enforce pollution-control measures promptly. The panchayat's declared inspection is an initial administrative response; further technical assessment and remediation will be needed to restore water quality in the affected reaches of the Cherupuzha.
