Aimed at addressing the recurring floods in the Meenachil river basin since 2018, the Kerala Congress (M) has submitted a set of recommendations to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also serves as Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority.The proposals, presented under the theme `New Approaches to Flood Control,’ have been drawn up from district-wide seminars, expert symposia, and community consultations. A delegation led by KC(M) district president Lopez Mathew, along with Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, handed over the recommendations and held discussions with the Chief Minister.According to Mr. Mathew, the talks reviewed the ongoing Irrigation department projects on flood control and riverbank protection, while also stressing the need for long-term, multi-departmental strategies. Among the key suggestions are curbs on excessive sand mining in rivers such as the Meenachil, Manimala, and Muvattupuzha, and the urgent implementation of the ₹108-crore project to clean up Vembanad Lake.The delegation also highlighted the hardships faced by traders and transport disruptions in towns such as Pala and Erattupetta during the flood season. They urged that riverbank protection be prioritised by the high-level committee already formed under the Chief Minister’s leadership.Flood-related issues in the western parts of Kottayam and the Upper Kuttanad region, particularly those linked to the Muvattupuzha river, have also been included in the detailed report submitted. The report further called for cleaning, conserving, and protecting all public water bodies in the district, along with strict measures against encroachments.With local body elections around the corner, environmental concerns are emerging as a key political theme. While KC(M) has sharpened its focus on the Meenachil basin, the rival faction led by P.J. Joseph is rallying around the worsening condition of Vembanad Lake.Published - August 18, 2025 07:28 pm IST