Flooding in Kerala’s Kuttanad triggers political controversy

As floodwaters continue to inundate Kuttanad in Kerala, a political storm has erupted over the region's readiness to manage the excessive runoff through its rivers. The Thottappally spillway has become a focal point of the controversy. A ministerial team led by Excise Minister M. Liju and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, along with Alappuzha MP K.C.

Venugopal, visited the affected area on Saturday. Demonstrations were organized against the perceived delay in clearing debris near the spillway. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other critics claim that the accumulation of sandbars and debris is impeding the flow of floodwaters into the sea. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists protested on the National Highway, accusing the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) government of procrastinating in removing the waste.

Police had to intervene to disperse the protesters. In response to the criticisms, Excise Minister Liju cited records from the Harbour Engineering department stating that dredging of the channel and spillway had been ongoing since 2018. However, Alappuzha MLA G. Sudhakaran dismissed these claims as an attempt by vested interests to create a crisis perception.

He stated that water was swiftly flowing into the sea, with the estuary's mouth expanding to over 100 meters. Sudhakaran pointed out that waste and debris were being transported from the eastern side to the western side before being discharged into the sea. Nightly operations are conducted to avoid disrupting traffic. The District Collector and Irrigation department officials have been working incessantly to facilitate the process.

Yet, another potential obstruction remains: more than 16 structures along National Highway 66 on the western side of the spillway are impeding the smooth water flow. This political altercation unfolds amidst significant flood damage across the district. Preliminary government assessments estimate losses of ₹55.64 crore over the past week, with the Local Self-Government department bearing ₹30.34 crore and the Agriculture department estimating crop losses at ₹20.4 crore, affecting 1,515.15 hectares of cultivated land.

The human toll persists even after the rain subsided, with families relocating to relief camps as floodwaters remain in paddy fields of Champakulam, Nedumudi, and Kainakary panchayats. Those residing on field bunds and small elevated settlements have been compelled to evacuate, while others have fled due to the inability to cook at home.

Several families from other States residing in rented accommodations in Kuttanad have also been impacted. The Thottappally controversy has been intertwined with another debate over flood preparedness, centered around the recently reconstructed Alappuzha Changanassery (AC) road. This 24 km road, costlier than ₹750 crore, was built after the devastating 2018 floods to prevent traffic disruptions between Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Kochi.

However, the road became submerged within days of the current flood season, hindering a vital central Kerala corridor. The reconstruction, executed at a cost of more than ₹750 crore after the 2018 floods, comprised five flyovers, four major bridges, 14 minor bridges, and three causeways. Recent flooding has reignited accusations that the reconstruction did not adequately consider Kuttanad's susceptibility to flooding, with waterlogging intensifying in areas lacking flyovers, such as Poovam, Kidangara, and Manaykkachira. Officials, however, attribute the flooding primarily to a blockage in the AC Canal.