To
Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Hnble Member of Parliament,
Sir,
At the out set
let me thank you for the efforts you have taken in your recent visit to
Wayanad, to understand the magnitude of the devastation inflicted due the 2019
deluge and land slides. We are confident that you may be able to address most of
the problems.
1)The
disaster management from last year onwards has been initiated without hearing
the versions of the stake holders. So far there is only an official
interpretation, which lacks the correct perspective. So please advise the State
Govt. to hold special Gram Sabhas and give an opportunity to the villagers to
narrate their hardship.
2) Many have
lost their source of livelihood, especially that of small and medium farmers
and farm labourers.
3)The
fertility of the topsoil has been depleted due to soil erosion which was
caused because of incessant rain and cloud bursts.
4)So far no
scientists has attempted to evaluate the loss of production due to unusual
stress on milking animals and fruit sets in plants e.g. coffee and pepper. This
is evident from the huge reduction of milk production in the deluge affected
districts and the heavy droppings of fruit berries of coffee and pepper.
5) All the
natural drainage systems ,such as rivers, rivulets brooks etc. are chocked by
debris and silts. This was caused mainly due to the blocks created by
intermittent bunds in rivers and other small drainage. Earlier locals used to
find a living by collecting the sand deposits. But now this process has been
banned in the pretext saving water bodies. A wrong idea initiated by the M sand
lobbies. Controlled removal of sand can help to cleanse drainage.
6)The
excessive use of weedicides, though banned cause to destroy the root system of
grass which helped to hold the soil from slipping. Secondly the soil has become
inert losing its natural binding force.
7)As there
are no tree coverage in vast areas of tea estates,especially in Meppadi,
Vythiri and Pozhuthana Panchayayts rain water falls directly on earth,which
causes speedy erosion.
8)There was
no measure to quantify the excess water collection during cloud bursts. Without
knowing how much mass of water has to be evacuated before inundation the
solution to face the next deluge is far from sight.
9)Above all
we have to think of how best we can utilise a bad situation. For example the
land slides has brought down huge mass of mud and slurry which can be utilised
to make bricks etc.
10)
Even planting of bamboo, fodder grass etc would be a
positive venture not only to prevent further slides but also to find use full
ends.
11)
Lastly the recommendations ushered by Prof. Madav
Gadgil would help us from stalling future calamities.
Thanking you,
With regards,
DIVAKARAN
A resident of Pozhuthana
And a victim
