The ₹1,850-crore Kuttanad package recommended by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) aimed at “mitigating the agrarian distress in Alappuzha and Kuttanad Wetland Ecosystem” and approved by the Union Cabinet about six years ago is nearly dead now.

Given the present financial constraints of the State government, it is unlikely be implemented and completed, feel a good section of the farmers of Kuttanad.

Work halted

“None of the components as recommended by the Foundation has neither been implemented nor completed,” said Father Thomas Peeliyanical, Executive Director, Kuttanad Vikasana Samithi.

“The work has come to a grinding halt. The State has to bear 25 per cent of the cost of the total project and in addition, it has to revise the estimated cost after every two years raising it by 20–30 per cent. Both these combined become a major financial burden on the State government, which is currently facing a serious liquidity crunch,” he said.

Some of the farmers in Mankombu and Ramankary said the Foundation had recommended setting up of an Agricultural Special Zone for Kuttanad before embarking on implementation of the package. But nothing of the sort has come into existence so far.

Lack of coordination

“Nearly 12 government departments are concerned with the implementation of the package and each has started proposing its projects without any coordination among all those involved and as a result it has become almost like the description of an elephant by a blind person after touching the pachyderm,” Father Thomas said.

In the name of development, Kuttanad has already been subjected to indiscriminate human interventions. Criss-cross roads have come up in the State’s granary by reclaiming the paddy fields and canals.

The carrying capacity of the Kuttanad region has already reached its limit. Given this scenario, there should be a holistic approach to salvage the ecosystem and ensure sustainable development, the farmers said.

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