Rising salinity threatens ‘puncha’ paddy cultivation in Alappuzha

The increasing salinity levels in waterbodies are posing a serious threat to ‘puncha’ paddy cultivation in Kuttanad and other parts of the district. According to farmers, salinity levels at Pallathuruthy, Cheruthana, Karuvatta and some other locations have exceeded 2 ppt, the allowable limit for rice cultivation.

Ryots have undertaken paddy farming on over 25,000 hectares in the ‘puncha’ season in the district, a major portion of which is in Kuttanad. According to Agriculture department officials, saline water is primarily entering rivers, canals, streams and other waterbodies from Kayamkulam Lake.

Aikya Kuttanad Padasekhara Ekopana Samithi will stage a protest march to Alappuzha district collectorate on February 3, demanding immediate steps to bring down salinity levels in waterbodies in the region. “High salinity levels are threatening to destroy paddy cultivation at several places. Authorities either failed to construct or properly seal ‘orumuttu’ (temporary structures) at various places in time to prevent saline water from entering waterbodies,” said Siji Chacko, secretary, Aikya Kuttanad Padasekhara Ekopana Samithi.

Farmer organisations have pointed out that saline water is also entering the region through the Thanneermukkom barrage over Vembanad Lake and “dysfunctional” shutters of the Thottappally spillway. Though the Irrigation department closed the shutters of the Thanneermukkom bund last month, farmers allege that seawater is still seeping in under the gates.

Amid growing concerns over increasing salinity levels, an emergency meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister P. Prasad on Friday directed Agriculture department officials to conduct an inspection and ensure that all ‘orumuttu’ are sealed and that no saline water is entering canals and streams close to paddy fields. The Minister directed the Minor Irrigation Assistant Executive Engineer to close the ‘orumuttu’ at Kannukali bridge at the earliest. As part of immediate measures to control salinity levels, the meeting also decided to request the Pathanamthitta district administration to release 100 cumecs of water per second from the Maniyar Dam during low tide.

Officials on Saturday said that water from the dam would be released soon to help reduce salinity in affected areas.