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Happier times for Vallarpadam?
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PREMA MANMADHAN tries to find out how life has changed for the people of Vallarpadam after the long-yearned- for bridges became a reality three years ago
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Photo: H. Vibhu
Visage of modernity The first three storeyed building in Vallarpadam on the first tarred road in the place
The blinking neon lights of jewellery showrooms and textile tycoons’ sprawling floor spaces are hardly two-and-a- half kilometres away from the tiny, nameless petty shop that Victoria minds in Vallarpadam. Flies hover around and the silence is
broken only by their buzz and crows cawing in the afternoon sun, sitting on the backs of grazing cows, on a big marshy patch of land opposite the shop. The gulf that divides these two scenes was bridged some three years ago (the three ‘Goshree’ bridges, the islanders’ dream) but life snails along for most of the Vallarpadamites. The scene across the bridges might well be one on TV that many in the panchayat, see on their neighbours’ houses.
Slow change
Now that the dream bridges are a reality, has life changed for these people on the erstwhile island, Vallarpadam, part of the Mulavukad panchayat? Where there were only cycles, now scooters and cars ply. There are autorickshaws too. It is changing slowly, but perhaps people expected some miracle or the change does not touch their lives as positively or as quickly as they would have liked.
Three years ago, the scene was hardly any different, Victoria points out, in a voice laced with frustration. Why? “We live in constant fear of land acquisition by the Government for the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal project. Now we wish that there was no bridge at all. I was married into this place and for 30 years, this has been my home. Where will we go now if our land is taken? For our kind of people what development can there be? The kind of development that the Government talks about will benefit only rich people.” The joy of being ‘connected’ is eclipsed by the fear of acquisition.
The road on which the shop stands is now tarred, the first road to have that honour, a sign of development, surely. Next to this small shop stands a brand new building, the first three storeyed one, in the panchayat, ‘Times Square’. Housed in it is the District Cooperative Bank, Bolghatty, the other erstwhile island, which is across the bridge. Says Joshy Sebastian, a contractor, who owns the building, “I am not afraid of acquisition. How can one plan one’s life or live if we fear everything? I always think positive. This building is the first big structure on the island after the bridge came.”
Sajeevan is at the bank to get a loan. He was a coastguard before the bridge happened. Fishing was also in his scheme of things, “but the catch declined when the dredging work progressed.” He found a lot of work at construction sites later. And then he graduated to working as real estate broker, for many people thought it wise to sell their land, and move to the interiors. The bridges had lured realtors who scouted for more and more land.
Many young men joined the ranks of the ‘broker’ tribe for it brought in big money, the percentage of commission for a deal.
“But people’s expectations are too high. They ask for unrealistic amounts, like Rs. 20 lakh for a cent with the result that little is happening on that front,” a disgusted Sajeevan says. Liju Joseph, who has some land there does not know whether to sell or not for, “If I sell now I may get maybe Rs 15 lakh or at least Rs 10 lakh per cent, but if acquisition comes, the Government will pay only Rs 1 lakh or so. If there is no acquisition, the land prices will go up again.” It’s like timing to sell your shares. Greed rules the scene among a small section .
C.M.Devassy, who was the Vypeen Block Panchayat president from 2003-2006, says 50 per cent of the common people in Vallarpadam would like to sell their property and move to other places for various reasons. Land holdings are small and with the number of family members increasing over the years, they feel it is the right time to sell and share the amount among themselves.
About 20 per cent of them have already sold their land, Devassy adds.
The bridge has done much to change the culture of the island, Devassy feels. “When there is an emergency, like a woman in labour, it is so much easier to reach her to hospital by road. Also, earlier, criminals would escape to Vallarpadam as the police would take time to reach here by boat. Likewise, crimes are fewer because now, the police can get to Vallarpadam quicker,” Devassy points out.
Awareness programmes
There are very few boats plying between the city and these ‘ex-islands’. The bus fares are more than the boat ticket rates, but now, there are no protests as there were when the boat ticket rates went up, every time.
Devassy feels that more awareness programmes must be held to acquaint the ‘islanders’ with the need for development and how in the long run, they will benefit. “That is what is lacking. Nobody is very clear about what the Government intends to do. If the people are educated about that and their future is safe, things will be a lot easier,” he sums up the solution to the burning social problem that has cropped up in this area.
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