ALAPPUZHA: A central team will pay a visit to Kuttanad on January 25 to study the problems of people due to overgrowing water hyacinths across the region. Local MP Kodikunnil Suresh said that the team would visit selected places in 13 panchayths in Kuttanad. The team led by officials from the Union Agriculture ministry will collect information from farmers and people's representatives.
A discussion on the disposal of water hyacinths in the presence of the district collector and tahasildars , principal agriculture officer and officials from various departments will be held at rice research institute at Mankombu on that day. "The report will be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture", he said. For over a decade, the water hyacinths have been multiplying on the rivers and canals and paddy polders of Kuttanad affecting paddy cultivation.
It is estimated that the uncontrolled multiplication of hyacinths has affected paddy cultivation in at least 15000 hectares. The water from rivers now cannot be used even for primary needs due to the hyacinths. The Agriculture ministry decided to send a team as a result of repeated complaints by local people to the local MP.
