Vazhathuruthi burns the midnight oil to prevent wetland encroachment

The earthmover allegedly used to remove mangroves and cut out a road through the Kottooli wetlands at Vazhathuruthi in Kozhikode remains stuck in the marshy land
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

Residents of Vazhathuruthi, a small region along the Kottooli wetlands in Kozhikode city, have been on high alert even in the middle of the night for the past few weeks. They keep their ears tuned for the sounds of earthmovers, for a slight lapse could change the map of their region in minutes.

“It took us time to realise that attempts to cut out a road through the mangrove forest and the earthmover eventually getting stuck in the mud were all part of some diversion tactics. The wetland was being filled in another part, less than 100 metres away, while we were preoccupied with the earthmover here,” said P.M. Jeeja Bai, secretary of Vazhathuruthi Residents’ Association.

The alleged encroachment on the Kottooli wetlands behind Markaz International School at Vazahathuruthi in Kozhikode being assessed by members of Vazahathuruthi Residents’ Association.
| Photo Credit:
K. Ragesh

While encroachments have been happening on Kottooli wetlands, one of the five notified wetlands in the State, for quite some time, it was the move to cut out a road through the mangrove forest on November 21 that brought the matter into the limelight. However, by the time the residents’ association members intervened, the damage had been done.

Mangroves over a strip of land for over 100 metres were allegedly cut down to create a road. The public demand to take the earthmover out of the place was turned down by workers who claimed that it had got stuck in the mud.

The second incident is an alleged violation in the backyard of Markaz International School on Wednesday where the residents’ association members reportedly spotted earthmovers moving fresh soil into the adjacent wetland thus encroaching upon it.

“We saw truckloads of soil being brought into the school compound. Upon inspection, we found a huge encroachment in the backyard of the school,” Satheesh Edapathil, president of the association, said.

However, the school authorities claimed that they were trying to level their playground. “We had heaps of soil reserved for the purpose and were waiting for the construction of the school building to be over. It is no encroachment,” said a Markaz official.

Meanwhile, members of the residents’ association, local environment protection committee, and the All-India Kisan Sabha who visited the site were allegedly threatened by individuals who claimed to be associated with the Calicut Trade Centre, a convention centre in the locality, which is also reportedly located on a wetland fill.

Incidentally, the Kozhikode Corporation has already served notice on the Calicut Trade Centre seeking demolition of the building. However, the trade centre authorities obtained an injunction order against it.

Most political organisations and people’s representatives have joined the fight with local people to save the wetland. The residents’ association plans to move the court.