Residents of Neendakara and Ezhupunna in the northern tip of the district have joined hands to protest against the large-scale aquaculture farms in their region, which they say has not only brought paddy farming to a halt in the area, but also rendered the entire groundwater table there saline.
The aquaculture farms, spread over nearly 500 acres, were converted for aquaculture in the early 90s. According to P.H. Hormis Tharakan, a resident of Ezhupunna, paddy cultivation was abandoned in the biggest padasekharam , the 200-acre Valliakari in 1991 and by the end of 1992, the other paddy fields too were converted for aquaculture operations.
“Within a decade or so, the residents of Neendakara lost whatever sweet water was available. The entire groundwater has turned saline and they have to depend on water distributed by panchayats. Later, their houses and trees also got damaged due to exposure to salinity. The residents have since been demanding the panchayat to install check-bunds and also to direct the owners of the farms to restore paddy cultivation as well,” Mr. Tharakan said.
The residents, who petitioned the government, the District Collector and all the authorities they could gain access to, have now turned irate with no response at all from any of these quarters. And on Tuesday, they launched an agitation, the first step of which was to stage a peaceful dharna in front of the Ezhupunna panchayat office.
A writ that was filed before the High Court is pending consideration, said Mr. Tharakan.
The dharna on Tuesday was inaugurated by Moolampilly Coordination Committee general convener Francis Kalathunkal while Neendakara Residents' Association president K.R. Johnny presided over the event. The dharna was organised under the joint aegis of the Pillerkad-Nariyandi Residents' Association and the Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi.
