THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Technopark has played a major role in duly placing the state in country's IT map. It might have changed the lives of scores of people. On the flip side, the establishment of Technopark has led to the disappearance of the paddy fields in the Kazhakkootam and Attipra regions here. A recent study by a group of students of Carmel Girls' Higher Secondary School has hihglighted the negative effects of development and urbanisation. By studying the land use pattern of the areas in 1989, 2003 and 2011, the students found out that there was a drastic dip in the area of cultivation. Surprisingly, the students found that pH of the soil samples was still suitable for cultivation. Soil of the abandoned paddy fields are still rich in nutrients and is fertile, the students observed.Students of Cramel GHSS, Aiswarya Shyam, Akhila V Kumar, Lekshmi Raj, Lekshmi S S and Bhavana H, led by teacher Tissy Mary John, conducted the study. Principal Sr Renita supported the team.The study also covered the drainage facilities at the Bypass road. It was foundthat drainage facilities were not sufficient for maintaining the natural flow of water. The culverts were also not properly maintained, the students noted. They also examined that reclamation of paddy fields has resulted in flooding during rainy season and drought during summer season.After studying the effects of urbanisation in the area, the students submitted a memorandum to Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan. In the memorandum, the students requested the authorities to stop developmental activities on the paddy fields, cultivable lands and marshy areas. They suggest paddy cultivation in abandoned paddy fields. They have also requested the authorities to start societies of farm labourers in line with Kudumbashree units in order to overcome scarcity of farm labourers. The existing culverts in the Bypass are to be widened and properly maintained. Reclamation of paddy fields must be stopped, the students suggest.As a follow-up activity, the students arranged a seminar on 'Know your land'. Sam T Kurumthottikal, professor of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, led the seminar. The students also arranged a poster-drawing competition and a quiz competition on the topic 'Soil'. After finding that the soil was still suitable for cultivation, the students arranged an awareness campaign among farmers and local people of Kazhakkootam.
Comments
0 comment