The Alappuzha district administration has banned fishing, sand-mining and setting up of Chinese nets within 100 metres of both sides of Thanneermukkom bund in Vembanad Lake.
District Collector S. Suhas issued an order in this regard after it was found that illegal fishing was rampant in the area by lifting the closed shutters of the bund. The Collector has directed the District Police Chief to initiate action against those violating the order. The police have also been asked to intensify night patrolling in the area.
Brackish water
In a bid to prevent intrusion of brackish water into paddy fields, the Major Irrigation Department in December last closed down all shutters of Thanneermukkom bund. About 30,000 hectares of land has been brought under paddy cultivation in Kuttanad and other parts of the district during the current crop season.
However, fishermen have been lifting the shutters illegally during night time using stones and jacks. This resulted in the entry of saline water.
Commissioning delayed
Commissioning of the third phase of the Thanneermukkom bund has been deferred owing to delay in the demolition of earthen embankment in the middle of backwaters. A claim over the 1.5 lakh cubic metres of earth to be removed has resulted in a stand-off between local bodies, Irrigation Department and the contractor entrusted with the demolition. In November 2018, the State government had directed the Irrigation Department to go for a public auction for selling the earth.
However, officials said that three cases were pending before the Kerala High Court in this regard and demolition of the embankment could only be resumed after the court ruling.
Construction phase
The third phase of construction, which commenced in September 2014, will replace the embankment in the middle by 28 steel shutters.
The Thanneermukkom bund across Vembanad Lake, proposed to keep the water balance and prevent intrusion of salt water into Kuttanad, was designed by the Central Water and Power Research Station in 1956.
The first and second phases were completed in 1965 and 1975.
The barrage was made operational in 1976. Once completed, the Thanneermukkom bund, with a span of 1,410 metres, will have 90 shutters, including 31 each in the western and eastern sides.
The third phase is constructed at a cost of ₹252 crore.