Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said that tidal action will be experimentally restored on the Kattampally river basin for two months to change the soil properties of the vast expanse of land that was once under 'Kaipadu' paddy cultivation.The Minister told presspersons here on Monday that an action plan for reviving paddy cultivation in the land lying fallow for four decades had been submitted. The report proposed revival of tidal action in April and May to loosen the soil hardened from prevention of saltwater intrusion.He said the months to restore tidal action would be finalised at a detailed discussion in Thiruvananthapuram in December.The Minister said efforts would be made to revive paddy cultivation in the area in as much hectares as possible. The Kaipad land would be monitored and studied after the experimental restoration of tidal action.He said the Kattampally irrigation project originally envisaged 18 shutters. The existing 13 were inadequate for releasing floodwater. The report proposed construction of five more shutters and bunds wherever saline water was likely to create problem.The report prepared by Rice Mission Coordinator P.V. Balachandran was submitted to the Minister at a meeting of farmers and officials at the Collectorate Conference Hall here.District panchayat president K.K. Narayanan and District Collector Ishita Roy were present.
The Hindu, 18th November 2008
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