ALAPPUZHA: Finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac visited the R Block of Kuttanad which was inundated with flood water for several weeks. More than 50 houses are under water due to the rain. Cultivation was also abandoned in the block and it led to filling of water in the polder. The houses constructed on the outer bund were flooded after the water level in the Kayal overflowed due to rain. The residents have shifted to houses of their relatives. The minister promised residents help to avoid water-logging in the area.
Meanwhile, earlier in November, agriculture minister V.S. Sunil Kumar had said that farming will be resumed in R block. The minister had asked the irrigation department to complete construction of earthen dyke (Orumuttu) to prevent brackish water before November 30. However, the water-longing continued to trouble the residents. However, the children are worst-affected in the area as they have no boat services to Kanjiram SNDP UP school. The students, majority of them belonging to SC community, are currently being taken by their mothers to school after walking at least 2km and often reach the school late.
The torrential rain has increased their woes. Shaji V. Nair, director, State Water Transport Department (SWTD) which conducts daily services, said that they had scheduled boats to accommodate students. There was a complaint of physically challenged student recently. It was resolved by arranging connection boat service so that the students should not miss the school,” he said.
