Thiruvananthapuram: Four years have passed since the government promised to accelerate the compensation process for farmers in Vellayani, which 217 hectares of land had sunk by the lake over the past three decades.
The promise was given at a meeting held in 2017.
Until 1991, ordinary farmers looked at their land near the lake to sow Padi (Puncha Krishi) with the support of the Committee led by RDO Regency.
The land was given to farmers for agricultural purposes, with a degree deed.
But with the government decided to stop further planting as part of an effort to preserve the lake, farmers lose their main income sources.
However, following protests, the government gave a nod to continue to farm.
Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission ruled against the decision stating that it would contaminate the lake which is a source of drinking water for areas such as Kovalam, Vizhinjam, Veganoor, and Kaliyoor.
It was in this background that the government decided to take over the land to preserve Vellayani as a freshwater lake.
In addition to rice cultivation, livestock maintenance here also adds to the income of this farmer.
217 hectares belonged to nearly 700 farmers at 4 km-stretching from Palator at Vellayani to Panangode in Veganoor.
Interestingly, farmers still pay land taxes.
“We have suffered a loss of Rs 500 Crore in the past three decades.
When agriculture ends, related activities such as livestock maintenance also end.
The government has improved soil value based on 1991 statistics, but we demand fair value to compensate for agricultural losses that occurred since 1992.
The government is usually Providing proper compensation based on fair value for development projects.
But in our case, we face a biased approach from the government, “said Padashekara Kayal Samrakshana Samithi Conveni, Koliyoor Gopi, who has 54 cents.
According to former MLA Jameela Prakasam, 240 lakh water was taken for the scheme of drinking water by the government for areas including Vizhinjam International Seaport.
“According to the current evaluation, the government must increase at least Rs 105 Crore to compensate for farmers,” he said.
“During 2016-17, several real estate groups have expressed interest in buying land but officials then strongly opposed the move.
The farmers did not have permission to sell their land and not farmed,” Jameela said, who was also the protector of Samithi.
“So, as it was decided at the meeting held in 2017, the government must avoid further delays in providing fair compensation to these farmers,” he said.
He added that encroachment, waste pollution and sand mining poses with a big threat to the ground.