THRISSUR: Soon after the flood water receded two weeks ago, the mafia gangs which control the illegal reclamation of paddy fields has started operation by filling up fresh paddy fields in Kizhakkum-pattukara division of Thrissur Corporation.
With gradual illegal filling up of paddy land, as many as half of the more than 100 acres of paddy field which gave room for rainwater during monsoon and incessant rains has been filled up in the area.
The historic deluge last year and the flash floods due to relentless rains this August have brought to forth an alarming situation in the division which was earlier the ward number one of Thrissur municipality.
The areas of ‘old’ Kizhakkumpattukara which were built on residential plots several decades ago and never faced water-logging earlier got flooded while water did not enter most of the houses in ‘new’ Kizhakk-umpattukara which are areas made on both illegal and ‘regularised’ plots made by massive filling up of the paddy fields named ‘Kainoor Kayal Paddy Fields’. The new houses in the area have foundations which are higher than usual to prevent floodwater entering them.
“Drain water from several other divisions are reaching the area unlike in previous years,” division councilor B. Geetha said. “Due to the closure and disappearance of water channels through the paddy fields, and the reclamation and construction occurred over the years, floodwater entered several unexpected areas this year.”
She said that deluge and floods recurring, the lost and encroached water channels needs to be retained. The residents say the land filling mafia is hand in glove with all political parties.
