A serious incident of human-induced flooding has left approximately one hundred families in distress in Kochi's coastal Chellanam region. On Monday, residents of Maruvakkad padashekaram within Chellanam panchayat found their homes and farms inundated with saltwater after local fish farmers allegedly opened a crucial sluice bund.
Details of the Incident and Official Complaint
According to a formal complaint submitted to the Chellanam village officer, the fish farmers opened the bund shutters to allow saltwater into their aquaculture ponds. This action had a devastating domino effect. The released water gushed into adjacent low-lying areas, flooding around 100 houses and destroying vegetable crops cultivated by residents.
The complaint was filed by Xavier T J, who stated that he represents the affected families. He revealed that these families had participated in a meeting with the fisheries department back in August. In that meeting, the department had explicitly assured that it would not issue a licence for aquaculture activities in the area and would not permit the opening of the sluice bund for such purposes.
System Failure and Political Vacuum
Residents point to a systemic failure that allowed this crisis to occur. Although a monitoring committee convened by the Chellanam village officer exists precisely to prevent such incidents, its activities are currently frozen, leaving no active oversight.
Francis Kalathinkal, coordinator of the Pokkali Paddy Protection Committee, highlighted the political timing. He noted that with the elections concluded, there is currently no active panchayat leadership to address the issue urgently. He explained the fish farmers' typical modus operandi: they open the shutters during low tide to catch fish in nets, but this irresponsible act during a high tide period caused the saltwater to rush in and remain trapped, flooding the land and homes.
Environmental and Agricultural Impact
The environmental damage is significant. The floodwaters have not only ruined homes but also devastated vegetable crops, a vital source of sustenance and income for locals. The area is protected by a seven-metre-wide solid boundary bund constructed by the minor irrigation department, which safeguards a vast 425-acre Pokkali paddy field from tidal waves. However, this internal mismanagement of the sluice gate has bypassed that external protection.
The incident underscores a persistent conflict between traditional paddy farming and aquaculture interests in coastal Kerala. It raises serious questions about regulatory enforcement, the accountability of local authorities, and the protection of vulnerable communities from profit-driven actions that compromise their safety and livelihoods.
