Scientist V.S. Vijayan recalls the assertiveness with which an octogenarian woman from Aranmula spoke of the need to conserve the paddy fields proposed to be filled for an international airport: “ Kudivellam muttikkalle saare (Please don’t drain our drinking water, sir).”
The former member of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, known as the Gadgil panel, was visiting the village to study the ecological impact of the proposed airport. “That uneducated woman in her mid-80s was well aware that paddy fields and wetlands control the water table. She knew that during heavy rain, water gets collected in them, thus stopping the Pampa waters from inundating the area,” Mr. Vijayan said while attending a session on ‘Rebuilding flood-hit Kerala’ at the Kerala Literature Festival that began here on Thursday.
Mr. Vijayan said the effect of the floods could have been reduced had the government implemented some of the recommendations of the panel that included a ban on constructions that block the natural flow of rivers, and facilitating afforestation around dams and their catchment areas.
A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, managing director, Kochi Metro Rail, spoke on the need to identify and mark the riverine base in the State, which suffered heavily in the floods. Afforestation should be strengthened and steps should be taken to prevent further loss of top soil. “According to an estimate, we need ₹40,000 crore to rebuild Kerala. But we have so far received only ₹10,000 crore.... We need to have proper data on the amount being spent for reconstruction,” he said.
T.P. Kunhikkannan of the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad seconded his views, claiming that Kerala should face the reality of climate change. Though the intensity of the floods last year was much less than what the State suffered in 2014, it impact was bigger. “The reason is that the earth has become more vulnerable due to human action. The rebuilding work should focus on the fact that our State may not be able to stand a similar disaster,” he said.
Detailed study
Mr. Kunhikkannan suggested that government agencies take up a detailed study of the resources available here for their sustainable use. Highlighting the fast pace of urbanisation of Kerala, P.P. Anil Kumar of the National Institute of Technology, Calicut, said it was high time we had a sustainable model for land utilisation. N. Prashanth, former District Collector, Kozhikode, and Manila C. Mohan, journalist, spoke.
