Dilution of wetlands Act to hit Palakkad the most

K.A. Shaji, Plakkad
The Hindu, December 31, 2015

Attempts by the State government to incorporate a clause of the Finance Bill 2015 in the Kerala Paddy Land and Wetlands Conservation Act, recommending regularisation of paddy fields reclaimed before 2008 would turn disadvantageous to Palakkad district, which has the largest acreage under paddy cultivation in Kerala.

If implemented, real estate mafia can convert at least 2,000 acres of paddy fields in the district as house plots. They have been keeping a vast extent of land barren for several years, without any agricultural activity, waiting an opportunity to reap profits. Efforts are also on to fabricate documents portraying several hectares of paddy fields as barren lands to initiate real estate business.

According to sources in the district administration, about 40 real estate companies are reclaiming paddy fields across the district, manipulating documents and bribing officials. During the local body elections, local people had foiled attempts to convert a vast tract of paddy field in Elappully by a prominent real estate group.

“Palakkad will suffer the most if the Act is diluted. With encroachments getting legalised, there will be fresh attempts by the real estate mafia, which will put food security at risk,” said P.S. Panicker, environmental activist. It is believed that the dilution of the Act will trigger a flurry of attempts to convert paddy fields and wetlands in the district, impacting the agricultural sector, affecting the water table and upsetting the environmental equilibrium. Though paddy production has remained comparatively steady in the last five years, at 4.5 lakh tonnes a year, in Palakkad, large-scale conversion of paddy fields had raised concern.

Benefits of canals

As per official records, the district had paddy cultivation in 1,82,621 hectares in 1970-71. It expanded to 1,83,634 hectares in 1980-81, largely due to the increased network of irrigation canals. However, the acreage under paddy declined to 1,45,687 hectares in 1990-91. In 2000-01, the acreage shrunk to 1,18,701 hectares.

“We have lost about 47 per cent of our rice fields over the last decade. About 30,000 hectares have been converted between 2000 and 2014 alone,” says Prabhal Mohandas of Daksh Farm at Chittur.