Niranam: In the village of Niranam in Kuttanad, the Krishi Bhavan building, which is crucial for agricultural activities during the Punja season, seems to be a harvest that never arrives.

The original Krishi Bhavan building, which stood in the village, collapsed years ago after being severely damaged during the 2018 deluge. At the time, the building was still in use, but the flood sealed its fate. Following the disaster, ₹55 lakhs were allocated under the Rebuild Kerala initiative to restore government buildings damaged by the flood. However, authorities now claim that the allocated funds are insufficient to construct a new building at the current site, with estimates suggesting that ₹1.10 crores would be required.

By contrast, the Niranam village office, which spans 1,090 sq. ft. over two floors, was completed for ₹44 lakhs, and is set to be inaugurated by the minister on October 27. Yet, the Krishi Bhavan remains a distant dream, with apathy still prevailing when it comes to its reconstruction.

The old Krishi Bhavan had been built on a reclaimed paddy field near Mukaladi School. The location, prone to waterlogging during rains, caused cracks to appear in the walls, rendering the structure unsafe. After the flood, operations were suspended, and for the last five years, the Krishi Bhavan has been operating out of Anugrahatheeram.

Soil tests, which cost ₹2 lakhs, revealed that the site would require pillars for a new structure, which would cost ₹40 lakhs. The ₹55 lakhs already allocated would be insufficient to even lay the foundation. Therefore, an additional ₹1.10 crores is needed to complete the building.

The existing funds would be enough to construct a new Krishi Bhavan on an alternate plot near the panchayat office, similar to the village office. However, this proposal has been rejected due to local resistance to moving the building's location. The panchayat had also purchased 11 cents of land near Ilanjikkal market for the Krishi Bhavan, but this plot remains unused. Similarly, a plot owned by the society near the old panchayat junction has not been developed, and only a technical formality remains to transfer 5 cents from this inactive 20-cent plot, which has been dormant for the past 20 years.

Although the owner of an 8-cent plot with a two-story house near the panchayat junction was willing to offer it for the Krishi Bhavan, the plan did not materialize due to complications with utilizing the Rebuild Kerala funds for that purpose.

Despite Niranam being a fully agrarian panchayat, with 475 hectares of land cultivated annually, the village remains without a functional Krishi Bhavan building. The existing funds could be used to build a new one on an alternative plot, yet the matter remains unresolved as local opposition continues to hinder progress.