Thiruvananthapuram: The last camp in Thiruvananthapuram taluk was closed down because there was no information from the village office or taluk regarding any waterlogged home, said a top official in the district administration. "We have not asked anyone to shut any camp. If there have been lapses, action will be taken against the officials," the official said.
It was on Sunday that the camp at Government MNLPS at Vellayani was closed down, leaving the family of Sakuntala J with no option but to stay at her daughter Reeja's home. The seven-member family is now crowding in that small home at Vellayani. The government officials have made no alternative. On Monday, when Sakuntala, her son Reejesh Kumar and daughter-in-law Manju K V went to clean their home, they sent the photos in which, water level continued to be till the steps of their house. A few other families are also affected because access to their houses continues to be surrounded by water.
The village officer Deccan Chronicle spoke to on Sunday had told us that the instruction to wind down all camps came from Thiruvananthapuram Tahsildar. The Tahsildar's phone was switched off on Monday.
The camp was shut down though Deccan Chronicle had relayed the information to Collector K Vasuki on Saturday night, and she had assured to take care of it.
When asked how water can be pumped out of the waterlogged area, officials at the village office said that the minor irrigation officials have been informed to do the needful. However a minor irrigation official told Deccan Chronicle that with 150 hectares of paddyland under water, it was impossible to pump water out. "For some time, it will have to take its natural course. If there is at least a week of sunny days, the water level will come down. It will empty into the sea through Kannali canal, Karamana river and Poonthura estuary. After this we will be able to use motor, but not now.
The district administration has been informed about this. They should not have shut the camp or should have made alternative arrangements for those affected," said the official.
