Ahead of new crop season, 10 shutters of Thanneermukkom bund opened

Kottayam: With the aim of providing relief to fishermen and farmers preparing fields for the second crop, 10 shutters of the Thanneermukkom bund have been opened. On Monday, shutters on the eastern side of the bund were opened with mechanical assistance. The remaining shutters will be opened in subsequent phases. Currently, 90 shutters and four navigation locks at the Thanneermukkom bund need to be fully opened with mechanical assistance. Due to the closure of the shutters, the livelihood of fisher families has been affected for the past three months after clam collection and fishing was halted. The opening will also benefit the farmers in Kuttanad who have prepared fields for the second crop. The shutters are closed as part of preventing saline water intrusion into the paddy fields. Although the harvest of paddy in Alappuzha, including Kuttanad, is almost complete, the delay in harvesting in the western region of Kottayam is the reason for the delay in opening the shutters. The saline water from the bund that fills the harvested fields helps prevent the growth of weeds. The saline water also helps in reducing soil acidity. As rainwater fills up during the monsoon, it flows into the canal, making the fields ready for cultivation. The Thanneermukkom bund, which prevents saline water intrusion into the low-lying areas of Kuttanad, also protects paddy cultivation. It helps farmers to cultivate twice a year. The bund helps maintain fresh water in the southern parts of Vembanad Lake, preventing saline water intrusion. This is beneficial for drinking water needs and other domestic purposes. The Thanneermukkom bund is also a major route connecting Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. During the rainy season, the shutters in the bund help drain water from the eastern regions, thereby controlling flooding to some extent. According to the agricultural calendar, the Thanneermukkom shutters should be closed on Dec 15 and opened on March 15. This time, the opening of the bund was delayed due to the delay in the harvest of the second crop and the puncha rice crop. This was to prevent saline water from entering the fields and damaging the paddy crop. The harvest in the Kuttanad region is almost complete. However, the delay in harvesting in the western region of Kottayam is the reason for the delay in opening the shutters. With the delay in opening of the shutters, the canals and backwaters dried up, and pollution led to the unavailability of fish and prawns, rendering hundreds of Chinese fishing nets along Vembanad Lake inoperative.