Kerala: Govt overrules expert advice to sanction paddy land conversion
In a move that raises both ecological and governance concerns, the state govt last week sanctioned the conversion of 2.40 acres of paddy land in Ramanattukara, Kozhikode, to construct a stadium. The decision overruled a state-level expert committee’s warnings about environmental consequences and its potential impact on drinking water availability in the region.
The committee had recommended against the project over five years ago under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, a legislation designed to protect paddy land and wetlands, read critical ecological zones, from unregulated development. The project, which was on hold since Jan 29, 2018, following the expert committee’s study, was revived on June 15 last year, when tourism and PWD Minister PA Mohamed Riyas—also in charge of Kozhikode district—wrote to the agriculture department recommending its clearance. His justification was that the stadium was a long-pending demand of local people.
The agriculture department, which consistently lamented the shrinkage of agricultural land and declining paddy cultivation, approved the land conversion and escalated the matter to the cabinet, which finalised the decision.The expert committee’s study had concluded that filling the paddy land and allowing construction would irreversibly damage the region’s ecosystem. Its detailed assessment said the conversion would severely affect water retention capacity, reduce groundwater recharge and impact drinking water availability in the region.
Besides dismissing the recommendations, the govt also attempted to create an illusion of environmental accountability by including routine clauses and conditions, which are often seen as mere bureaucratic formalities with questionable effectiveness. These include assurances that agricultural activities in the vicinity should not be adversely impacted and that 10% of the filled land should be earmarked for water conservation, a move experts say is unlikely to mitigate the large-scale environmental disruption the project will trigger
The decision also contradicts the govt’s policy on agriculture. The agriculture department has, over the years, announced many initiatives to promote paddy cultivation and enhance food security, a goal that seems increasingly unattainable. An investigation by TOI, which accessed documents related to the project’s approval, shows that the govt’s action also went against the core principles of the paddy land and wetland act, introduced by the VS Achuthanandan govt in 2008.
Filling of wetlands and paddy fields for construction has been a major contributor to Kerala’s worsening flood crises in recent years. As the state grapples with climate change, depleting groundwater and increasing environmental vulnerabilities, the govt’s willingness to sideline expert advice for projects sets a dangerous precedent.
This article has been republished from The Times Of India.