THANNEERMUKKAM BUND AND THOTTAPPALLY SPILLWAY

Transcription

1 265 CHAPTER 5 THANNEERMUKKAM BUND AND THOTTAPPALLY SPILLWAY Thanneermukkam Barrage was constructed across Vembanad Lake in 1974 inorder to facilitate rice cultivation in non-monsoon months.it prevents tide water entry from the northern part of the Vembanad Lake.In the absence of regular flushing due to closing of the shutters of the bund, the entire Kuttanad region turns into a pollution sink.the construction of the Thanneermukkam bund aggravated the problem due to choking of waterways due to salvinia (floating moss)growth. The shutters of Thanneermukkam Bund are closed to protect agriculture from December 15 th every year. It will be opened only on March 15 th. The district collectors of Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, government officials, and leaders of various organisations constitute the monitoring committee, which decides on the closing of the shutters. There are 62 shutters. Since the water level in Kuttanad has risen due to Vrichika Veliyettam, shutters were closed without instructions from the monitoring committee. The fishermen and environmentalists are of the view that the Thanneermukkam Bund should remain open all over the year to protect and

2 266 foster fish varieties. With the closing of Thanneermukkam Bund the hydrology is interrupted in the Vembanad lake and canals. The Thottappally Spillway which is located in the south-west corner of Kuttanad region along National Highway 47 was erected to drain out flood water during monsoon and also to curtail the salt water intrusion inorder to facilitate rice cultivation in Kuttanad region lying in the Alappuzha district. Due to the ineffective functioning of the Spillway, there is excessive growth of African Payal which during the monsoon months colonises the low-lying paddy fields and also the movement of boats.the Thottappally Spillway is a flood controlling mechanism that is expected to save thousands of hectares of cultivable land from the scourges of seasonal flood and unpredicted additional supply of water. It is believed that the correct operation of the Spillway would help the farmers in preventing the extra supply of water and in preparing the land for high yielding harvest. Unfortunately, the operationof the Spillway is not proper and as such the expected benefits are only on the paper. Efforts are needed in strengthening the indigenous habitats of Kuttanad and in streamlining the folkways of the masses of Kuttanad region. 5.1 Historical Appraisal KSSP (1978) says, the search for a permanent solution to the problem of floods in Kuttanad started as early as 1934 by the then Government of Travancore. When the Spillway was commissioned in 1955, it was noticed that it could not discharge more than one-third (i.e. 20,000 cusecs) of the designed

3 267 capacity. As a result, the construction of the Spillway has not made any perceptible improvement in the control of floods in Kuttanad. Kuttanad Development Project (1974) records that, A regulated spillway at Thottapally, 20km. south of Alleppey provides a direct outlet to the sea for the flood waters instead of the long route through the Vembanad lake to Cochin cut. The width of the spillway is 365 metres. The bed is 2 metres below mean sea level. As the channel cuts across the National Highway 47, the regulator is combined with a road-bridge. The regulator-cum-bridge has 450 spans of 25 ft.. Electrically driven lift gates 25 x 9 operate in the vents. The spillway has a designed capacity for discharging 64,000 cusecs when the flood level is 1.1metre above mean sea level. It has not, however been possible to maintain adequate discharge on account of insufficient capacity of the channels leading to the spillway and consequent reduction of the head causing the flow in the spillway. 5.2 Causative Factors of Failure The failure of the Spillway to reach the original target of flood discharged is due to the following factors: (i) The `piling up of water due to the raising of the sea level during monsoon and the formation of a sand bar on the sea-ward side of the Spillway was not taken into account in designing the project; (ii) The variations in the water level as well as the direction of the flow of water within Kuttanad during the different months of the years and especially during the monsoon, do not seem to have been studied in sufficient detail before deciding the location of the Spillway;

4 268 (iii) Deviations from the original specifications effected in the construction of the 1,311 metre long and 368 metre wide approach channel to the Spillway; and (iv) Corrective measure to raise the discharge rate at Thottappally above the actual level of 20,000 cusecs would involve substantial additional investments. Moreover, the Cochin Port Authorities fear that if more flood waters were to be let out through the Spillway, the problem of silting in the channels of the Cochin Port will be greatly aggravated. Thanneermukkam Regulator: The problem of the intrusion of salt water from the sea into Kuttanad during the summer was sought to be solved by constructing a salt water barrier (called Thannermukam Regulator) 1,402 meter long and located at Thannermukkam, about 22.5 kms north of Alleppey. The regulator is constructed across the lake at the point where its width is the minimum. The construction of this Regulator took an inordinately long time. The work was started in 1955 and by 1973 only two-thirds of the construction was complete. The remaining one third was temporarily bunded with sand, clay, etc. by mobilizing the local labour. Though incomplete, the Regulator was commissioned by the end of Towards the end of December each year when the saline water intrusion into Vembanad lake begins, the shutters in the Regulator are lowered and remain closed till the end of May when the premonsoon showers reverse the flow.

5 Salinity Problem Implicit in the concept of the Regulator seems to have been an assumption that the entire Kuttanad area was affected by the salinity problem more or less uniformly, or at any rate, the variation in its intensity between different parts of the region was not significant. This is clearly not in accord with facts. The Kuttanad area is marked by wide variations not only in soil and topographic conditions and the incidence of flooding, but also the intensify of salinity during summer months. 5.4 Paddy Cultivation It would therefore seem that the advantages of the Thannermukkam Regulator in facilitating a second crop of paddy have been mainly to the 8,100 hectares of Kayal lands and 10,120 hectares of North Kuttanad. However, little is known about the extent to which this has been experienced in fact. The remaining areas were either not affected at all by the Regulator or its impact was not felt significantly because the problem of saline water incursion was not a critical constraint to similar paddy cultivation. This view is supported by the fact that a significant portion of the Kuttanad area switched over to double cropping even by when the Regulator was not ready for operation. 5.5 Rapid Spread of African Payal While the increase in pests and the fall in paddy price were due to factors other than the commissioning of the Regulator, the Thanneermukkam Bund was directly responsible for the extraordinary rapid spread of the African payal. The absence of saline water incursion during the summer since 1974 has provided

6 270 excellent conditions for the growth of African payal since in saline water these weeds are subjected to decay preventing its further growth to a considerable extent. Apart from the problem it has created in the cultivation of paddy, it has also given rise to a number of other problems like obstruction of transportation, fishing, breeding of mosquitoes, pollution of water etc. Those who carry cargo in country boats and fishermen fishing in such areas are the worst hit in such circumstances. The formation of velvet-like sheet due to the spread of this weed prevents sun light from reaching the bottom of the water body and adversely affects the utilisation of the nutrients for the growth of aquatic life. The growth of the African Payal coupled with the stagnation of the water body has provided a suitable environment for the mosquitoes on a larger scale than before. 5.6 Water Borne Diseases The closure of the Regulator stops completely the tidal ebb and flow and results in the stagnation of the entire water body outside the Regulator. Since the period during which the Regulator remains closed does not receive any rain, the water level in canals and courses go down and within a few weeks the water gets polluted. Except for a few affluent households, the only source of water for the entire population for drinking, bathing, washing, retting of coconut husks an even for basic purposes like discharging human wastes are the canals and the other water courses. Sufficient flow of water and the daily tidal ebb and flow functioned in the past as a natural drainage preventing the water body from pollution. Now that this natural flow of water gets polluted quickly and results in

7 271 diseases like dermatitis, jaundice, colitis and amoebic dysentery. The extent of the incidence of these diseases has not yet been quantified. During the five months when the Regulator remains closed, the water level north of Thanneermukkam rises by 2-3 ft. with a corresponding decline in the southern parts of Kuttanad, i.e. where salt water intrusion is prevented. Therefore even in garden lands in the north of the Regulator, water seeps in and remains stagnant causing considerable damage to the healthy growth of coconut and other trees. The area also becomes an excellent breeding centre for mosquitoes. Since water remains stagnant with a thick layer of African Payal, the Southern side also provides idea conditions for breeding of mosquitoes. 5.7 Weed Control Though salt water intrusion was a constraint in the past for the cultivation of the paddy crop, water used to be let into the fields immediately after harvesting. The saline water thus let in prevented the growth of weeds and pests and when paddy was raised on them very high levels of yield were realised because of the absence of weeds, a major problem confronted in most other paddy lands in the state. Absence of salinity in the water has now provided conditions favourable to the growth of weeds thus adversely affecting the productivity of the land. 5.8 Acidic Soils The entire Kuttanad area comprises marsh lands and the decayed vegetable matter below 1-2 of the top soil has a high percentage of carbonaceous wood. The resulting acidity of the soil has been a major constraint

8 272 in the cultivation of paddy. The traditional solution to this problem was leaching the soil by applying lime immediately after harvesting and letting in the water for the remaining period. The tidal ebb and flow helps dissolution of the acidity in water and it s washing away from the land. This way of natural washing does not take place when the Thanneermukkam Regulator remains closed. Since the top soil remains acidic in content, paddy cultivations has been adversely affected. 5.9 Idukki Tail Race Water Project With the closure of the Regulator during summer, the water level in the lake goes down significantly partly due to evaporation loss and partly by pumping in water to the Punja lands after harvesting and for raising a second crop in certain areas. This has given rise to water shortage in the dry lands and adversely affected the productivity of coconut trees. To meet this situation a scheme to divert the Idukki tail race water from the Muvattupuzha basin is supposed to be under implementation on but the closure of the Thanneermukkam Regulator before the diversion of Idukki tail race water has aggravated the problem. The Thanneermukkam barrage has divided the Vembanad lake into two halves. The southern part has been virtually transformed into a vast fresh water lake. Due to the closing of the barrage gate for a period of 6 months in the dry season the salinity of inland water bodies is reduced considerably. As a result there is prolific growth of salvenia even in the paddy fields. The waterways are so chocked by these weeds in some cases that normal boat movement is almost

9 273 impossible. These weeds also create problems for cultivations. It has also been reported by the Department of Health that water borne diseases are increasing due to the stagnation of water in the southern part of the barrage Combined Effect of the Spillway and the Regulator The combined effect of the Spillway and the Regulator was expected to increase the area under double crop paddy by enabling (a) the sowing of the first crop to be advanced in areas subject to north-east monsoon floods, and (b) the raising of a second (summer crop) by preventing the incursion of saline water in the summer months, and using the fresh water in the Kuttanad water body for irrigation. The former was found to require raising and strengthening of bunds to withstand the north-east monsoon flood. Whether this was due to the failure of the Spillway to reach its designed discharge capacity or whether it could have been found necessary even if the Spillway was successful is not clear. In any event, this was clearly not anticipated in the original project concept. It was proposed only in 1971 when a separate project for this purpose was prepared by the Government of Kerala and entrusted to the Kerala Land Development Corporation, specially created for this purpose. The inference drawn from the analysis of the data is given below The Environmental Impact on Kuttanad Region due to the Government Interventions The environmental impact on Kuttanad region due to the government interventions such as Thanneermukkam Bund, Thottappally Spillway,

10 274 Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, Bund Constructions and Land Reclamation can be studied from the awareness, attitude and the outcomes of the environmental interventions. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region considered in the study are the following; 1. Shrinkage of backwaters 2. Increase in flood 3. Increasing salinity 4. Contamination of water resources 5. Decreasing availability of drinking water 6. Increase in pests 7. Aggressive growth of water weeds 8. Reduction in fish population and variety 9. Improper discharge of waste 10. Increasing incidence of diseases Thanneermukkam Bund Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the major environmental issues in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

11 Table 5.1: Environmental Issues due to Thannermukkam Bund in three Regions of Kuttanad Shrinkage of backwaters Increase in flood Increasing salinity Contaminati on of water resources Decreasing availability of drinking water Increase in pests Aggressive growth of water weeds Reduction in fish population and variety Improper discharge of waste Increasing incidence of diseases Total Region Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 18 P-value =

12 276 Since the P-value is large, the effect of the major environmental issues is similar in all the three regions. It can be inferred that 9.87 % of the Kuttanad region has shrinkage of backwaters due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, % of the Kuttanad region has the increase in flood due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, 8.55 % of the Kuttanad region has the increasing salinity due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, 8.55 % has the contamination of water resources due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, 7.9 % has decrease the availability of drinking water due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, % has the increase in pests due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, % has the aggressive growth of water weeds in the Kuttanad region due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, % has the reduction in fish population and variety due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund, 8.55 % has the improper discharge of waste due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund and the remaining 5.92 % has the increasing incidence of diseases due to the effect of Thanneermukkam Bund. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region due to the construction of Thanneermukkam Bund are aggressive growth of water weeds and increase in pests. The other major environmental issues in their order of significance are increase in flood, reduction in fish population and variety, shrinkage of backwaters, contamination of water resources, improper discharge of waste,

13 277 increasing salinity, decreasing availability of drinking water and increasing incidence of diseases Thottappally Spillway Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the major environmental issues in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

14 278 Table 5.2: Environmental Issues due to Thottappally Spillway in three Regions of Kuttanad Shrinkage of backwaters Increase in flood Increasing salinity Contamination of water resources Decreasing availability of drinking water Increase in pests Aggressive growth of water weeds Reduction in fish population and variety Improper discharge of waste Increasing incidence of diseases Region Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 18 P-value =

15 279 Since the P-value is large, the effect of the major environmental issues is similar in all the three regions. It can be inferred that % of the Kuttanad region has shrinkage of backwaters due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, % of the Kuttanad region has the increase in flood due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 6.93 % of the Kuttanad region has the increasing salinity due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 9.9 % has the contamination of water resources due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 5.94 % has decrease the availability of drinking water due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 2.97 % has the increase in pests due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, % has the aggressive growth of water weeds in the Kuttanad region due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 5.94 % has the reduction in fish population and variety due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway, 8.91 % has the improper discharge of waste due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway and the remaining 5.94 % has the increasing incidence of diseases due to the effect of Thottappally Spillway. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region due to the construction of Thottappally Spillway are increase in flood and aggressive growth of water weeds. The other major environmental issues in their order of significance are shrinkage of backwaters, contamination of water resources, improper discharge of waste, increasing salinity, decreasing availability of drinking

16 280 water, reduction in fish population and variety, increasing incidence of diseases and increase in pests Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road The Changanacherry-Alappuzha Road is a breakthrough in the history of Kerala,especially in linking the eastern habitats with Alappuzha, the Venice of the East.The road has opened easy access to so many small inhabitations and has provided greater connectivity and mobility among various villages of Kuttanad. Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the major environmental issues in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

17 281 Table 5.3: Environmental Issues due to Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road in three Regions of Kuttanad Total Increasing incidence of diseases Improper discharge of waste Reduction in fish population and variety Aggressive growth of water weeds Increase in pests Decreasing availability of drinking water Contamination of water resources Increasing salinity Increase in flood Shrinkage of backwaters Region Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 18 P-value =

18 282 Since the P-value is large, the effect of the major environmental issues is similar in all the three regions. It can be inferred19.05 % of the Kuttanad region has shrinkage of backwaters due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, % of the Kuttanad region has the increase in flood due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 9.52 % of the Kuttanad region has the increasing salinity due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 9.52 % has the contamination of water resources due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 9.52 % has decrease the availability of drinking water due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 4.76 % has the increase in pests due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 7.94 % has the aggressive growth of water weeds in the Kuttanad region due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 4.76 % has the reduction in fish population and variety due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, 6.35 % has the improper discharge of waste due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road and the remaining 4.77 % has the increasing incidence of diseases due to the effect of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region due to the construction of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road are increase in flood and shrinkage of backwaters. The other major environmental issues in their order of significance are, increasing salinity, contamination of water resources, decreasing availability

19 283 of drinking water, aggressive growth of water weeds, improper discharge of waste, reduction in fish population and variety, increasing incidence of diseases and increase in pests Bund Constructions Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the major environmental issues in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

20 284 Table 5.4: Environmental Issues due to Bund Constructionsin three Regions of Kuttanad Total Increasing incidence of diseases Improper discharge of waste Reduction in fish population and variety Aggressive growth of water weeds Increase in pests Decreasing availability of drinking water Contamination of water resources Increasing salinity Increase in flood Shrinkage of backwaters Region Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 18 P-value =

21 285 Since the P-value is large, the effect of the major environmental issues is similar in all the three regions. It can be inferred that 19.1 % of the Kuttanad region has shrinkage of backwaters due to the effect of Bund Constructions, % of the Kuttanad region has the increase in flood due to the effect of Bund Constructions, 7.87 % of the Kuttanad region has the increasing salinity due to the effect of Bund Constructions, 3.37 % has the contamination of water resources due to the effect of Bund Constructions, 4.49 % has decrease the availability of drinking water due to the effect of Bund Constructions, % has the increase in pests due to the effect of Bund Constructions, % has the aggressive growth of water weeds in the Kuttanad region due to the effect of Bund Constructions, % has the reduction in fish population and variety due to the effect of Bund Constructions 4.49 % has the improper discharge of waste due to the effect of Bund Constructions and the remaining 3.37 % has the increasing incidence of diseases due to the effect of Bund Constructions. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region due to Bund Constructions are increase in flood and shrinkage of backwaters. The other major environmental issues in their order of significance are, reduction in fish population and variety, aggressive growth of water weeds, increase in pests, increasing salinity, decreasing availability of drinking water, improper discharge of waste, increasing incidence of diseases and contamination of water resources Land Reclamation Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the major environmental issues in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

22 286 Table 5.5: Environmental Issues due to Land Reclamation in three Regions of Kuttanad Total Increasing incidence of diseases Improper discharge of waste Reduction in fish population and variety Aggressive growth of water weeds Increase in pests Decreasing availability of drinking water Contaminati on of water resources Increasing salinity Increase in flood Shrinkage of backwaters Region Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 18 P-value =

23 287 Since the P-value is large, the effect of the major environmental issues is similar in all the three regions. It can be inferredthat % of the Kuttanad region has shrinkage of backwaters due to the effect of Land Reclamation, % of the Kuttanad region has the increase in flood due to the effect of Land Reclamation, 5.08 % of the Kuttanad region has the increasing salinity due to the effect of Land Reclamation, 5.08% has the contamination of water resources due to the effect of Land Reclamation, % has decrease the availability of drinking water due to the effect of Land Reclamation, 5.08 % has the increase in pests due to the effect of Land Reclamation, % has the aggressive growth of water weeds in the Kuttanad region due to the effect of Land Reclamation, 11.87% has the reduction in fish population and variety due to the effect of Land Reclamation % has the improper discharge of waste due to the effect of Land Reclamation and the remaining % has the increasing incidence of diseases due to the effect of Land Reclamation. The major environmental issues in the Kuttanad region due to Land Reclamations are aggressive growth of water weeds and reduction in fish population and variety. The other major environmental issues in their order of significance are increase in flood, shrinkage of backwaters, decreasing availability of drinking water, improper discharge of waste, increasing incidence of diseases, increasing salinity, contamination of water resources and increase in pests.

24 ENVIRONMENTAL INTERVENTIONS: AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE The following characteristics of Kuttanad region worsely affect the human life in Kuttanad: 1. Decreasing water flow in the perennial streams 2. Non-availability of water circulation. 3. Acid content of soils. 4. Acidic water 5. Dryness in the humus. The awareness and attitude of people may be ignited towards the preservation of the Kuttanad region Awareness Status In the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region all the respondents are aware of the following environmental interventions, Thanneermukkam Bund, Thottappally Spillway, Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road, Bund Constructions and Land Reclamation Nature of the Region suffering from Environmental Sustainability Issues Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to study whether there is any significant difference between the environmental sustainability issues in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region.

25 289 Table 5.6: Affliction due to Environmental Problems Region Affected Not Affected Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is large, the region classification, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region has no influence on the environmental sustainability issues. It can be inferred that 81 % of the people are suffering from environmental sustainability issues and 19 % of the people are not suffering from environmental sustainability issues Attitudes towards the Environmental Interventions following: The environmental interventions in the Kuttanad region are the 1. Thanneermukkam Bund 2. Thottappally Spillway 3. Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road 4. Bund Constructions 5. Land Reclamation 6. Sand mining

26 Thanneermukkam Bund and Thottappally Spillway In the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad regions all the people responded that the governmental interventions such as Thanneermukkam Bund and Thottappally Spillway were been appropriate to the region Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whether there is any significant difference between the attitudes towards the environmental interventions in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.7: Appropriateness of Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road Region Appropriate Not appropriate Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is large, the region classification, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region has no influence on the attitudes

27 291 towards the environmental interventions. 87 % of the people responded that Changanasserry- Alappuzha Road is appropriate to the regions and 13 % of the people responded that Changanasserry-Alappuzha Road is not appropriate to the regions Bund Constructions Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whether there is any significant difference between the attitudes towards the environmental interventions in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.8: Appropriateness of Bund Constructions Region Appropriate Not Appropriate Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is small, the region classification, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region has influence on the attitudes towards the environmental interventions.

28 292 In the upper Kuttanad region, % of the people responded that Bund Constructionsare appropriate to the regions and % of the people responded that Bund Constructions are not appropriate to the region. In the lower Kuttanad region, % of the people responded that Bund Constructionsare appropriate to the region and 42.9 % of the people responded that Bund Constructions are not appropriate to the region. In the north Kuttanad region, % of the people responded that Bund Constructionsare appropriate to the region and % of the people responded that Bund Constructions are not appropriate to the region Land Reclamation Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whether there is any significant difference between the attitudes towards the environmental interventions in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.9: Appropriateness of Land Reclamation Region Appropriate Not Appropriate Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value =

29 293 Since the P-value is large, the region classification, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region has no influence on the attitudes towards the environmental interventions. 74 % of the people responded that Land Reclamations are appropriate to the regions and 26 % of the people responded that Land Reclamations are not appropriate to the regions Sand mining Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whether there is any significant difference between the attitudes towards the environmental interventions in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.10: Appropriateness of Sand mining Region Appropriate Not Appropriate Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is large, the region classification, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region has no influence on the attitudes

30 294 towards the environmental interventions. 66 % of the people respond that Sand mining is appropriate to the regions and 34 % of the people respond that Sand mining is not appropriate to the regions Satisfaction Ratio Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whetherthere is any significant difference in the Satisfaction ratio in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.11: Satisfaction Level of the Residents of Kuttanad Region Satisfied Not Satisfied Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is small, there is significant difference in the Satisfaction ratio in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. In the upper Kuttanad region, % of the people are satisfied to live in this area and % of the people are not satisfied to live in this area.

31 295 In the lower Kuttanad region, 60 % of the people are satisfied to live in this area and 40 % of the people are not satisfied to live in this area.in the north Kuttanad region, 70 % of the people are satisfied to live in this area and 30 % of the people are not satisfied to live in this area Future Potential Chi-square test for independence of attributes is used to test whether there is any significant difference in the Future Potential in the upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. Table 5.12: Future Potential Region Like to reside Doesn t like toreside Total Upper Kuttanad Lower Kuttanad North Kuttanad Total Source: Survey The test statistic, = Degrees of freedom = 2 P-value = Since the P-value is large, there is no significant difference in the future potential in the region classification namely, upper Kuttanad, lower Kuttanad and north Kuttanad region. It can be inferred that 56 % of the people like their children to reside in the Kuttanad region and the remaining 44% of the people doesn t like their children to reside in the Kuttanad region.