The Hindu : Kerala News : District Notes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

District Notes

THE FLOODING in Thrissur district in the current phase of monsoon has put campaigners of rainwater harvesting in an embarrassing situation. In fact, in many places, even the inaugural functions of the State-wide campaign for rain-pit digging on June 5 were marred by heavy rain. And in the next few days, the main worry of the people was to devise means to drain out the huge pools of water that had formed in many places in the incessant rain, rather than drawing up strategies to harvest water.

Public memory being short, there was hardly anyone who could remember the ordeals faced by the people owing to the severe drought a couple of weeks back. Also, widespread filling up of lands and construction of buildings without creating proper drainage facilities, had contributed to flash floods in many places. There were also reports that large-scale quarrying of hill areas for mud had intensified the threat of landslips.

Much of the water would have flowed into the sea as no arrangements had been made to divert it to recharge the water reserves underground. The question of how much water had seeped into the ground in this wet spell would now be raised only when there is water shortage during the next summer. So, the experience this year has established that in spite of the technological advancements, we are ill equipped to face a drought or a wet spell.

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LAKSHWADWEEP, lying in the placid waters of the Arabian Sea, has been an area of peace and calm, though storms and thundershowers are not alien to the group of islands. The high waves of the ocean pose threat to the lives of people in the 10 inhabited islands. Once the seasonal changes are over, tranquillity returns and life becomes normal.

The people, mostly engaged in farming and fishing, have their grievances, but the peace-loving natives are not known for taking any aggressive postures or fierce agitations. Cordiality is the hallmark of their lifestyle; simplicity and straightforwardness their assets. At least that is the track record as is known to the outside world. But things have changed now. Peace and calm are slowly being lost to the islanders.

As could be expected, the trouble started with more politics entering the daily lives of people. And, if there is intense political activity, can violence be far behind? The hate campaign started with the recent elections. As soon as the elections were over, the strife surfaced all over again.

Making provocative speeches, pelting stones and framing cases have become frequent on the islands. The defeat of a prestigious candidate and the stories behind it has added fuel to the fire. The feelings of amity have given way to a campaign of hatred. And, if the people's minds are polluted with spite, can any waves wash them away?

R. Ramabhadran Pillai in Kochi

By T. Ramavarman in Thrissur and R. Ramabhadran Pillai in Kochi

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