Kuttanad package: Team for concrete changes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central team to review the implementation of ‘Kuttanad package’ as instructed by the Prime Minister’s Office suggested ‘concrete changes’ as it found serious lapses in the enforcement of the Rs 1,840-crore package. They found many things in violation of the recommendations by the Swaminathan Commission and widespread damage to the environment. The eight-member team led by Sudha Pillai, Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission, discussed their findings with P Prabhakaran, Chief Secretary, at a meeting here on Saturday. According to the team, the rampant use of concrete for constructing bunds was causing heavy damage to the region.They suggested the opening of the shutters of salt water barriers, both in Thottappally and Thannermukkom, to alleviate the ecological damage. The team had also raised concern over the spreading of African Payal (salvinia molesta) in almost all the water bodies of Kuttanad. The Union Government had entrusted the Chennai-based Dr M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) to conduct a scientific study of the Kuttanad region and suggest suitable measures to mitigate agrarian distress, as requested by the State Government. The Union Government accepted the recommendations of MSSRF as a package with a variety of interventions to be implemented with a total outlay of Rs 1,840 crore for funding under the  ongoing Central Sector schemes. The team, which met many department officials when they visited Kuttanad the other day, will submit its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.