Vice President Radhakrishnan urges Kerala to deepen rivers to curb floods

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan called on authorities Sunday to regularly deepen Kerala’s rivers to reduce flood risks, speaking at the 115th anniversary of the Malayalam daily *Kerala Kaumudi* in Alappuzha.

Radhakrishnan, who arrived in Kerala on Sunday for a two-day visit, highlighted the growing concern of shrinking river depths due to inadequate sand removal. “The depth of the river is getting reduced because the sand is not being removed at frequent intervals,” he said. “Otherwise, where will the water go?” He emphasized that maintaining river depth is essential for flood prevention and should not be delayed.

While acknowledging environmental concerns, Radhakrishnan cautioned against extreme positions. “We should not become fanatical about anything, including the environment,” he said. “We should not politicize everything; that will always go against the interest of development.” He urged MPs from Kerala to take up river deepening initiatives, even if it requires approaching courts to present historical depth data.

The Vice President also drew attention to the erratic rainfall patterns in Kerala, noting longer dry spells followed by sudden heavy downpours. He urged journalists to raise awareness about climate-related and infrastructure challenges through responsible reporting. “Some people say in the name of the environment that rivers should not be deepened,” he said. “But then where will the water go?”

Radhakrishnan praised Kerala’s name change from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam,’ a move passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2026. “I congratulate every Keralite for achieving this new name,” he said. “It represents the culture of Keralam. I could see the happiness on the faces of all the members that a historical error was now being corrected.”

He also highlighted three major contributions from Kerala: Adi Shankaracharya, Sree Narayana Guru, and Mannathu Padmanabhan. “If Adi Shankaracharya is not there, I don't think there is a United India today,” he said. “And if Narayana Guru is not there, there is no equality among ourselves.” He credited these reformers with Kerala’s 100% literacy milestone and praised Narayana Guru as “one of the greatest sages and social reformers of modern history.”

Addressing the legacy of *Kerala Kaumudi*, Radhakrishnan commended the newspaper for its 115 years of ethical journalism, which he said had strengthened political awareness, social reform, and public rights. He noted Kerala’s progressive society, high literacy, and global influence through its diaspora. He also acknowledged the rapid transformation in media, where artificial intelligence and social platforms can spread unverified information quickly. “This creates opportunities, but it also creates… we should create the responsibilities,” he said.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar emphasized the need for dialogue over conflict, praising *Kerala Kaumudi* for fostering discussions and solutions. Higher Education Minister Roji M. John spoke about the challenges of misinformation and the role of fact-checking in today’s digital age.

The Vice President also honored Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of SNDP Yogam, who was recently awarded the Padma honor.

#KeralaFloods #RiverDeepening #CPRadhakrishnan #KeralaKaumudi #Keralam #EnvironmentSustainability #SreeNarayanaGuru