Erayamkudi foils bid to convert paddy field

KOCHI: Signalling the spread of protests against the filling of paddy fields from Thrissur district to other parts of the state, the residents of Erayamkudi near Kodungallur thwarted a move to fill a paddy field by a few real estate agents on Monday.Led by T N Prathapan MLA, around 250 residents of the area broke a rubble wall, which was constructed for filling the paddy field. They also opened a canal, which was blocked by the real estate agents. The protest was led by Erayamkudi Janakeeya Samiti, an association of local residents.“There were around 18 brick kilns functioning in the area. But all of them were closed down after a High Court order.“However, the owners of the brick kilns have handed over their lands to the real estate agents to fill and sell them for higher prices. The land filling will cause serious environmental issues,” said Jayasree, a local resident, who is also an activist of the Janakeeya Samiti.Earlier, the local people had filed a complaint to Ernakulam District Collector alleging that the real estate mafia was blatantly violating the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008. The Janakeeya Samiti demanded the authorities to initiate steps to revive the paddy fields, which have already been filled by the real estate agents.When T N Prathapan MLA contacted the Ernakulam District Collector and RDO over phone from the controversial  site, both the officials had assured that all possible measures will be taken to initiate legal action against the real estate agents, said Jayasree. “If the land owners are not interested in farming, they could lease out the land to others who are interested in farming. If they could not find a lessee then they can seek the assistance of the government for it,” said Jayasree.