Cultivation in the paddy fields (puncha) of Aranmula and Kurunthar was
badly affected since the past 10 years due to water logging following the
illegal conversion of land and a natural stream in the name of a proposed
private airport, Assistant Director of Agriculture has said in a report to the
Principal Agriculture Officer.
The report, submitted in October last, categorically states that nearly
95 ha of the fertile paddy fields in Aranmula and Kurunthar have turned
waterlogged areas following the earth-filling of the paddy fields by a private
party for the proposed airport project.
The report also says Valiyathode, a natural stream that has been
functioning as a natural flood escape route between river Pampa and Aranmula
puncha, too has been converted by the private party.
The Agriculture Officer also submitted reports to the higher authorities
on February 28 and July 14, 2008 and on January 23, 2009, detailing the threat
posing the paddy sector in Aranmula due to the hazardous land conversion.
However, no effective step was taken by the authorities concerned.
AICC member flays it
Criticising the controversial airport project, Peelipose Thomas,
All-India Congress Committee member and former member of the State Planning
Board, has alleged that the government should take stern action against the
violation of various key rules and Acts that have taken place in the name of
the private airport project.
Mr. Thomas alleges criminal indifference on the part of the authorities
concerned towards the violation of as many as eight very important Acts,
including the Prevention of Corruption Act-1998, for the Aranmula airport
project.
The Cabinet decision to take 10 per cent equity in the controversial
airport project could be seen as an attempt to whitewash the irregularities and
violations that has taken place at Aranmula and to protect the culprits, he
alleges.
V.S. Vijayan, former Biodiversity Board chairman, said, “Farmers claim
they can produce nothing less than five tonnes of paddy a hectare from the
Aranmula puncha, if the present area of 1,457 ha is converted back into a
cultivable state. The total production will come to 7,085 tonnes annually, and
by fixing the procurement price at Rs.15 a kg, the the paddy will fetch
Rs.10.63 crore. And, if it is organically produced, the total worth can be just
double, nearly Rs.21 crore.”
The impact of filling and raising the paddy land and wetland area for
the airport does not confine only to the earmarked 400 acres, Dr. Vijayan says.
It stretches beyond, affecting all the wetlands and paddy fields over
the 3,500 acres, as there is complete blocking of water movement, he says.
The government should, therefore, not give exception, under any
circumstances, for converting paddy lands and wetlands under the Kerala State
Paddy Lands and Wetland Conservation Act, 2008. The provision for exception for
public purpose will not be applicable here, he adds.
· Paddy
cultivation hit at Aranmula and Kurunthar
· Report
cites
water logging of
paddy fields
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