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