Alappuzha: After historic evacuation effort rescuing at least 1.5 lakh people in anticipation, flood-ravaged Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, is all set to another three-day long path-breaking cleaning up drive from Tuesday as part of 'Operation Rehabilitation'.
Kuttanad, the land that lies three-feet below the sea level, has been experiencing this unprecedented flood situation since mid-July; the longest one in its history. Nearly 10 days after the mass evacuation, the district administration along with local government has chalked out plan of action to bring derailed life of Kuttanad back on track.
As per the plan, the three-day clean up drive with the help of more than 50,000 displaced Kuttanad people and 15,000-odd volunteers will be launched at 226 villages of 16 panchayats. Apart from this, more than ITI students and teachers from ITIs have been roped in to get plumbing and electrical works done in the flood-wrecked houses. A special training for them under district collector S. Suhas was held here the other day. About 5000 people have registered online for the programme.
According to finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, who is spearheading the team, the drive was introduced with a view to sending displaced people to their home safely by August 30. "People who can return home can do so on August 30; the others will be shifted to specially built shelters," Dr Isaac said. "Separate shelters for each panchayat will be set up. People will be brought to shelters either by road or boats."
The rebuilding works of bunds are going on a war-footing with the money allocated from disaster management fund. Pumping subsidy has already been disbursed. "We have given priority to the dewatering of Alappuzha-Changana-ssery road and have brought 30 high power pumps from Maharashtra for the purpose," he said.
Kuttanad still has no power and telephone connectivity, its road transport has become a thing of the past; its tourism industry has almost vanished. Still, the flow of displaced people from relief camps to the deserted Kuttanad through ferry boats continues to be a morning affair in Alappuzha jetty. Jam-packed boats of State Water Transport Department (SWTD) were seen ferrying them from Alappuzha jetty to various places on Monday as well. The revenue officials have let inmates in many shelter camps leave, if they wanted, for their homes abandoned ten days ago.
In the big story of reconstruction, the wave of humanity that fled homes is now back, trying to pick up from where they had left. One could see people camping at a cemetery in Kainakary, telling a poignant narrative how the living share space with their forbears when confronted by nature's fury. "What do we do if there is no option we are left with," asks Ajesh, a Kainakary native. The camp in the cemetery, however, has been disbanded as water receded in many places.
Many houses in Ettintemoola of Kainakary panchayat are still half-submerged. Shibu, an Ettintemoola resident, whose house is still under water, says his family could live in the house only after rebuilding the Kanakasserry bund. "The authorities have to give emphasis to build bund instead of cleaning up works," he said. "Many people come home in the morning, clean up their premises and return to camps in the evening."
The job is not going to be easy. The water has started receding but almost all bunds in Kuttanad still lay breached. Residing in the houses could be possible only after they are rebuilt and the water is pumped out from paddy polders to Pampa river or leading canals. Many houses got silt as they are in the floodwater for many days while many small houses are still marooned. Snake sighting would be a high possibility in every flooded house.
Two days ago this correspondent travelled to Kainakary area had seen a group three men in loin cloths were in the mission of meticulously catching a snake with a long-handed Thrishool. In short, living with children in these houses certainly poses some risk. "Cleaning up would be easier now since water level started receding," said Jyothi, a resident, said. "Two days ago water touched the rooftop; it is only five feet now. We have started cleaning the premises of salvinia two days ago. We had two sacks of paddy when we left the house 10 days back and we see them sprouted. Our only hope is on the relief funds offered by government."
Their paddy is lost but their hopes sprout on government promises. Big hopes at that.
