MAVELIKKARA: Opening KIP canal without any prior announcement created a flood-like scare at Thekkekara panchayat after water gushed into the area and flooded roads and houses.

The canal overflowed and acres of paddy fields, roads and a number of houses were inundated on Saturday night. The unexpected opening of canal once again brought back the memories of recent spate of floods.

More than 100 acre ready-to-reap paddy fields spread all over Varenikkal, Kurathikkadu, Choorallur, Palliyavattom went under water.
The canal at the west side of Cherupushpa Bethany school overflowed. There was waterlogging on house premises and water level in wells in the area also rose.

At Varenikkal paddy field, this time it was the biggest harvest. Here alone flooding was seen in about 125 acre. The farmers said that they are not in a position to take harvest machine onto the feilds, where reaping was planned on February 15.

Varenikkal Padasekharam Samithy Secretary S R Sreejith and Karshaka Sangam Distrcit secretary Adv Harishankar said there would be a loss of Rs 2 crore if the water is not controlled. They urged the government to stop the irresponsible act of the officers who failed to open canal last year and opened the canal this time without alerts.

Though opening KIP canal when water level in Pamba canal rises is a usual thing, failure to issue warning was what brought hardships to the people.