KOCHI: A small group of Pokkali farmers in Chellanam are still waiting for the Padashekaram Samithi to dewater their fields so that their paddy crop can be cultivated. With the Samithi refusing to clear the saltwater from the fields, farmers say that they are unable to go ahead with their cultivation.
“One of the farmers approached the Kerala HC, seeking contempt of court proceedings against the district collector who is the chairman of the district Pokkali Land Development Authority (PLDA). District collector S Suhas has submitted in court that the area would be dewatered within 10 days. The court passed the orders on June 28. Till now, we have not been able to get them to clear the fields off the salt water,” said Francis Kalathunkal, general convener, Pokkali Samrakshana Samithi.
Chandu Manjadiparambil, a 73-year-old Pokkali farmer had filed a case in the high court on April 9, following which the court directed the collector to ensure that the sluice should only be opened after November 15. Chandu said that he owns 2.26 acres of paddy land in which he cultivates paddy. As the land is in the coastal belt where an integrated farming practice is followed, fish is farmed from November 15 to April 15 and paddy is cultivated afterwards. “Because of the higher rate of profitability in saline aquaculture in relation to the Pokkali paddy cultivation, landowners do not support paddy, which has resulted in serious ecological imbalance, including percolation of salinity to fresh groundwater channels, steady perceptible degradation of residential structures. This is due to the constant presence of salinity in the subsoil acting negatively on the bonding strength of cement, scarcity of freshwater, destruction of cash crops like coconut palms, organic vegetable cultivation etc.,” he said in his petition.
“PLDA has been formed to protect this unique paddy crop which is very local to just Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur. The crop calendar has been notified by the government that specifically states that in Pokkali lands, the period from April 15- November 14 is allocated for paddy cultivation alone,” the petitioner said.
