Let's make Palakkad a water surplus district.

Kerala has basically three types of geographical terrains [eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain), the central midlands (rolling hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains)].

Palakkad is located almost in the middle of Kerala and it shares the border with Tamil Nadu with Coimbatore being the nearest Metro city. Palakkad has a different geographical terrain and a typical weather pattern which is much different than other districts in Kerala. Most of the eastern regions of Palakkad are rain shadow places where almost no rainfall is received throughout the year. 

Ancestors of Palakkad knew this very well and they knew the importance of precious rainwater harvesting. They dig up as many number of lakes, ponds in farmland, ponds attached to temples, public wells, wells in each home to save rainwater and overcome water crises.  

Palakkad has (or had) the most number of waterbodies (ponds, lakes, dams) than any other district in Kerala. 90 percent of these waterbodies were privately owned as land was not expensive until 1990s in Palakkad.

Gulf money and the real estate boom of 2000s and 2010s in Kerala also affected Palakkad. When demand for land increased substantially in Palakkad, owners of these pond gradually filled the lakes, ponds and smaller waterbodies to sell it. And it is incorrect to blame them as these land owners of lakes and ponds are common people or farmers and they sold off to meet their basic needs. 

At this point Local Self Governments (LSGs) should involve, intervene and develop lakes, ponds and public wells by taking these lands it on lease and maintaining it.  Simultaneously they can buy new lands in each wards and develop new lakes and ponds.

Other stakeholders such as PMA, Palakkad Chamber, Rotary Club, Lions Club, IIT, Ahalia Group should be consulted / involved for their contribution and participation in such activities. Siruthuli in Coimbatore is an ideal model for Palakkad to replicate in rainwater harvesting. Siruthuli is a NGO jointly formed  by Coimbatore Corporation, various industries associations, educational institutions, other environmental NGOs. 

How can we utilise Palakkad Town railway station optimally?

Palakkad Town railway station is located in the heart of the Palakkad town, just opposite to the municipal bus stand, one of the busiest and crowded areas of Palakkad town. The railway station was founded during British Raj, Palakkad being a strategic place connecting the Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They created a railway division in Palakkad, most of the income generating railway stations of which have been taken away by newly formed (for political mileage by the local politicians)  Salem, Mangalore and Mysore divisions reducing the importance of Palakkad railway division. 

Palakkad Town is a terminal station from where mostly meter gauge trains used to go to not far away places like, Palani, Madurai, Rameswaram, Nilambur, Shoranur etc. However, l believe that trains towards Tamil Nadu (through Pollachi) has been suspended for the past two years (or more) because of the gauge conversion from meter gauge to broad gauge, being carried out on the route. The only active train, (broad gauge train), Amrita Express to Thiruvananthapuram (started by O Rajagopal of BJP when he was the Minister of State of Railways in Bajpayee government) now leaves every day from here. It leaves Palakkad Town station and goes to Palakkad Junction (Olavakkode) and there it takes an hour in changing the engine, reversing, etc.  Majority of people either board or get down at Palakkad Jn (Olavakkode) to save this one hour, because they can reach in 20 minutes to anywhere in Palakkad town from Olavakkode. After the Palakkad Junction railway station (located in Olavakkode) became the primary railway station for Palakkad (I do not know when this has happened, because l started traveling by train from Palakkad Junction in 1991 and till then I thought Palakkad Town was the only railway station existed in Palakkad),   the importance of Palakkad Town railway station was further reduced. Palakkad Junction connected all long route trains coming from / leaving to Coimbatore, Thrissur and Shoranur.

Now, Palakkad Town railway station is only used for booking of tickets (it has got a reservation counter) and of course, (paid) parking of your vehicles, especially overnight or for many days (l used it many times, parked my motor cycle overnight and for 2-3 days and got it back safely, it's very cheap too). When the train services from / to Rameswaram were active, lot of sea food like Mathi (Sardine) and Ayala (Mackerel) were brought from there (I still remember the smell of fish when we passed through railway station road during my childhood). 

O Rajagopal was again kind enough to sanction many over bridges (fly-over) for Palakkad including the one across Palakkad Town railway station starting from Tharekkad (near the veterinary hospital) and ending at Lorry Street (l couldn’t still locate exactly where this  fly-over ends and also couldn’t understand the purpose of connecting Valiya Angadi Road (Big Bazar) with this fly-over). But, this fly-over is yet to open after years and years of work on it (as on Sep 2011, when I left India). 

Now, do we require a railway station (Palakkad Town) which do not serve any purpose to anyone? I believe this railway station serves no purpose to any Palakkad people as of now or will serve any purpose in the future too, except for parking vehicles and reservation of railway tickets. I believe, 99% of the Palakkad people depend on Palakkad Junction (Olavakkode) railway station for their short and long distance travel by train. 

I would like to suggest :

•  Palakkad Town railway station to be removed and merged with Palakkad Junction railway station for all technical and administrative purposes.
• The land owned by Southern Railway (Palakkad Town railway station and its surroundings) is a high value land, therefore, municipal corporation of Palakkad (most inefficient municipal corporation in India) should pay the market value to Southern Railway and take over the land.
• This land is to be converted into a park, which is very much required in Palakkad town.
• Existing railway line from Palakkad Town railway station to Yakkara (near NH 47) should be removed.
• New railway line connecting Palakkad in railway station and this line at Yakkara (near NH 47) should be constructed.
• Municipal Corporation / concerned Panchayats should help Southern Railway in getting land for this railway on a war foot basis.
• Railway should construct a broad gauge line from Palakkad Junction railway station to this point in Yakkara (near NH) so that it is operational along with current gauge conversion done on this line.
• Municipal Corporation / Panchayats should pay the Southern Railway the market rate for the land where old railway lines were removed. These lands can be sold though auction to get more profits for them.
• All the trains previously operating from Palakkad Town can be run from Palakkad Junction.
• No flyover will be required on GB Road (Near Josco) after the removal of railway line from the road.
• The lndian Oil located tanks located in town can be relocated to a better place near Palakkad Junction (Olavakkode)
• This will help the Municipal Corporation to widen roads on the adjacent side of Palakkad Town railway station premises.
• New connectivity of Palakkad Jn will help railway run EMU trains on Palakkad Junction <--> Kollengode <--> Pollachi <--> Coimbatore <--> Palakkad Junction
  
  
  
  
  

This will make radical changes to Palakkad town (and whole district) improving the aesthetics of the town, easing the traffic congestion, ensuring better mobility within Palakkad and towards Pollachi and Coimbatore and a green area within town would provide much needed oxygen (as pollution is choking the people) and a place where people can relax at.  Now, people from sub-urban places in Palakkad district avoid going to Palakkad town for shopping, movie, park etc., because non-availability of parking facility, traffic congestion, pollution and inconvenient mobility facility.