When people return home at dusk, 62-year-old Kamalakshi and other members of her community (Schedule Caste) at Muttukandi Poduthadam in Ezhome panchayat set out from their homes to the nearby Kuppam-Valapattanam river. When water recedes during low tide, they at once get to work to catch shrimp, crab, and others. However, the recent activities on the tourism front as part of the Malanad Malabar River Cruise project are posing a threat to their livelihood.
Amid the chaos, people like Kamalakshi are helpless as they watch the riverside fast disappear. According to her, such mega projects are proving a death knell for her community, whose members depend on fishing in the riverside for a living, she says.
Rajan, a fisherman, who is known for his initiatives to protect mangroves, says the area has been proposed for the mangrove cruise route. However, large tracts of mangrove forest had already been destroyed for Kaippad farming. “Now, tourism projects are posing a threat. Unfortunately, officials have turned facilitators by remaining mute spectators,” he adds. P.S. Sajeev, president, Environmental Protection and Research Council, says court rulings, officials are acting in an irresponsible manner.
Incidentally, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Management Authority is yet to approve the Tourism department’s proposal to construct a boat terminal and gallery in the locality as it had failed to specify the location where the project is coming up.
Environmentalist K.P. Chandrangadan says though the matter was taken up with the District Collector and the CRZ Management Authority, there has been no response. According to him, details of the project are not available with the local body concerned. Meanwhile, Taliparamba Revenue Divisional Officer E.P. Mercy, who inspected the area and ordered removal of red soil by December 10, says that a detailed verification of documents is needed. As instructed by District Collector S. Chandrasekar, a team of officials will inspect the area on Tuesday, she says.