Paddy farmers’ hunger strike completes two days

The ongoing indefinite hunger strike by paddy farmers, organised under the aegis of the Nel Karshaka Samrekshana Samiti (NKSS), completed two days on Wednesday.

The NKSS has been demanding immediate steps to fully regulate the shutters of Thanneermukkon barrage according to high and low tides to prevent seawater intrusion into Kuttanad, an increase in the paddy procurement price to ₹32.52 per kg, prompt disbursal of the paddy procurement price to farmers, compensation for crop losses and distribution of quality seeds among other demands.

NKSS general secretary Soneychan Pulinkunnu and vice-president Lalychan Pallivathukkal are observing the hunger strike in front of the collectorate here. On the day, representatives of the NKSS held discussions with District Collector Alex Varghese, Thomas K. Thomas, MLA, and other officials, but no breakthrough was achieved.

“The District Collector informed that a decision on regulating Thanneermukkam bund will be taken on a joint meeting of the Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta District Collectors on November 29. Both the District Collector and MLA promised to take up other issues related to paddy farming with the Ministers concerned. We will continue the hunger strike until the government accepts our demands,” Mr. Soneychan said, adding that a decision on intensifying the protest will be taken on Thursday.

The seawater intrusion through Thanneermukkom bund began earlier this month. According to the NKSS, outerbunds of at least four paddy polders have collapsed in recent weeks in Kuttanad. In several areas in Kuttanad, water levels rose above the danger level last week. Though the situation has improved slightly, farmers fear the sudden increase in water levels in the mornings due to high tide could result in more bund breaches, as several are in a weakened state. The rise in the water table has also affected the harvest of the additional (second) crop in some areas, which is nearing completion.

Following the ingress of seawater, the District Collector, earlier this month, ordered the regulation of 28 shutters of the barrage according to high and low tides. Paddy farmers, however, said that regulating 28 of the 90 gates would not prevent the intrusion of seawater into Kuttanad.

Published - November 27, 2024 06:56 pm IST