Kalpetta: Authorities have taken action against illegal paddy field reclamation in Vythiri. The Vythiri Tahsildar has issued a stop memo instructing to halt all ongoing activities. The order includes stopping both the excavation of a pond and the filling of the paddy field. A team comprising the Tahsildar and the Village Officer visited the site for inspection.
The action comes in response to the reclamation being carried out under the pretext of constructing a pond for fish farming. The contractor behind the pond construction is the local CPM branch secretary. As the issue gained public attention, the Tahsildar demanded that the landowner submit all relevant documents. Excavation for the large pond has been ongoing for weeks, with two earthmovers operating continuously. The pond is being dug across a stretch of 75 meters in length and 35 meters in width. The soil excavated is being used to fill a large area of the paddy field.
The construction is taking place without the approval of any relevant department. CPM branch secretary Shanib, who is overseeing the reclamation, claimed that the work is for fish farming and admitted that no formal permissions were sought. Vythiri is classified as an ecologically sensitive area where even construction activities require strict compliance and permissions. Despite this, the reclamation is being carried out without any clearances. Following media reports, the Village Officer visited the site and recorded the situation.
