The Bharathapuzha, also called Nila, is not just a river for the Malayalees; it's a sacred and an integral part of their cultural tradition.

They have an emotional bond with this river.

The condition of Bharathapuzha has been highlighted earlier, but experts feel that if the plundering of sand goes on at this rate, within a few years, Malayalees will have to perform the last rites of the river itself.

Thiruvilwamala is an important pilgrim centre in South India. In terms of performing the last rites, it is the third largest spot in the country after Kashi and Swargodar (Bengal).

It is also home to a number of famous temples.

Neglect by the authorities, indiscriminate and illegal sandmining and encroachment by locals have spelt doom for Nila.

The stretch from Ivor Madom to Kootlamukku has almost dried up owing to reckless sandmining.

It is the presence of a check dam at Thiruvilwamala that leaves a little water in the place.

The water body here looks like a pond, though. Despite numerous prohibitions and regulations, sandmining goes on unchecked on the riverbed at Thiruvilwamala.

Nearly 100 truckloads of sand are transported from here daily. The sand mafias are mostly based at Thiruvilwamala, Lakkidi and Pampadi. Sand from here is even exported to Tamil Nadu.

The depth of the riverbed has decreased by 10 to 15 feet due to sandmining, according to Indiannur Gopi, who has studied extensively the ecological damage caused to Bharathapuzha.

In fact, Bharathapuzha has lost the character of a river. It has been reduced to a ground full of pits, Mr Gopi says. Mining of sand is also threatening the Lakkidi bridge, which connects Thrissur district and Palakkad, since sand has been dug out from around the bridge's pillars.

"The sand mafias have created an atmosphere of terror here," says Mr Ramesh Korappath, who runs a crematorium here.

If sandmining goes on at this rate, within two years, devotees may have to perform the rites in the pits and jungles formed on the riverbed, he laments.

Mr Ramesh said there has been threat to his life from the sand mafia. "It's widely believed that the sand mafia bribe police to continue their operation," alleges Ajith, a local. As the river has almost dried up, some locals have started encroaching on it.

"Though the panchayat charges Rs 25 for a body that is brought here for cremation, but it does not bother to protect the river or provide basic amenities to the devotees," complains Ramesh Korapath.

"The mindset of the average Malayalee has to be changed. Even those people who clamour for the protection of river use sand from the Bharathapuzha to build their posh houses," says Mr Kuttappan, Thiruvilwamala panchayat president.

However, Mr Kuttappan said, the panchayat is making efforts to check sandmining by planting bamboos on both sides of the river.

The project is being carried out with the help of the Forest Department.

Prof Govindan Kutty Kartha, who has conducted an extensive study on the degradation of the Bharathapuzha, told The Pioneer that "a river-sand mining policy must be framed by the Government. Not only the Government and the conservationists but also the public should act as the watchdogs of the Bharathapuzha."