Advocacy And Outreach

Centre for Periyar River Basin Management and Studies (cPeriyar) is a collaborative think tank, jointly managed by IIT Palakkad and NIT Calicut and established to address the complex challenges facing the Periyar River through integrated, science-based river basin management. It brings together diverse stakeholders—including government agencies, academic institutions, industries, civil society, and local communities—to promote coordinated and sustainable conservation efforts in the Periyar River Basin. As Kerala’s longest and most economically significant river, the Periyar supports hydropower, agriculture, drinking water supply, industry, and biodiversity. However, the river faces mounting pressures from pollution, dam-related disruptions, deforestation, and climate-related stress. These challenges demand a unified approach that considers both ecological sustainability and the needs of dependent communities.

cPeriyar acts as the central coordinating body which brings together all relevant stakeholders working in the Periyar River basin. Rather than serving as just another advisory group, it delivers structured leadership in river governance by harmonizing the roles of various institutions—government departments, research bodies, industry partakers, and local governance entities—under a unified conservation framework. Its major objective is to develop and implement an integrated River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) that reflects the ecological, hydrological, and socio-economic realities of the Periyar basin.

cPeriyar emphasizes community engagement and participatory governance, ensuring that conservation strategies are inclusive and culturally sensitive. By aligning scientific research with policy implementation and local action, it aims to facilitate long-term, standardized river management. cPeriyar represents a shift from fragmented efforts to a cohesive, basin-wide strategy for protecting the ecological and socio-economic integrity of the Periyar River.