'This is our food, how can they do this?': Farmer fumes after lorry dumps toilet waste over harvested paddy in Kottayam

Kottayam: For 12 days, harvested paddy lay along the roadside of a one-acre field at Kolampurathukari on the Kallara–Edayazham road. The farmer, Vechoor native Sukumaran, waited for local mills to procure the grain, but none came forward. Then, on the 12th day, last Friday night, a lorry carrying toilet waste dumped its entire load over the tarpaulin-covered produce and into the neighbouring fields before speeding away.

For farmers in Vechoor, this is not an isolated case. Waste-dumping by honey suckers in and around paddy fields has become a recurring menace, and they blame the authorities for failing to stop the incidents.

Sukumaran is their latest victim. He had harvested his one-acre plot and stacked about 25 quintals of paddy on a raised platform beside the road. But the crop remained there because mill owners and farmers were locked in a dispute over the tara — the portion of paddy that farmers must give mill owners as compensation for impurities and non-grain content found in each quintal of their produce.

According to locals, the sanitation truck arrived sometime after 7 pm on Friday and dumped a full load of toilet waste on the tarpaulin-covered heap. "There were 25 quintals of paddy at the spot," said Santosh Kunnathuthara, a farmer from the area.

Sukumaran said that almost half of his produce was lost in one night. "This is the first time they have dumped waste directly over the harvested paddy. Earlier, they used to dump it into the fields. This is our food — how can they do this?" he asked.

It is estimated that around 10 quintals of paddy lying at the bottom of the heap have been completely destroyed. "The wastewater seeped into the lower layers, making them unusable. Only the top portion — which was tightly covered with tarpaulin — remained unaffected," said Santosh.

Following the incident, officials from the panchayat, Health and Agriculture departments visited the site and assessed the damage. The Vechoor panchayat had earlier installed a CCTV camera in the area, and the truck’s visuals had been captured on it. "The authorities said they would examine the footage and take action. So far, I haven’t received any update on the progress," Sukumaran said.

A complaint had been lodged at the Vaikom Police Station. The police said that the investigation is ongoing and action will be taken soon.

Farmers allege that for the past few years, trucks have been unloading waste into paddy fields and nearby streams that supply water for cultivation. "They come at night, dump the waste along the roadside and into the streams, and flee," Santosh said.

Vechoor Agriculture Officer Lida Jacob said that despite all possible measures, the incidents continue to recur. "Earlier, the trucks used to unload waste into the streams from which farmers drew water for their fields. That caused major problems in the area. One farmer who used that contaminated water lost his entire crop about a year ago," she said.

Lida added that the issue has been repeatedly raised with the panchayat authorities and the police. "The Vaikom Police had taken strong measures, and for a brief period, the problem was brought under control. But now the incidents are cropping up again," she said.

Farmers allege that anyone who speaks out against the truckers dumping waste faces intimidation. "If someone complains, the next morning they may find a heap of toilet waste dumped right in front of their house," said Sukumaran.

Some farmers are even scared to file complaints. "Despite awareness programmes and earlier actions, these incidents are increasing," said Lida.

Apart from the waste-dumping issue, farmers are also struggling with delays in the procurement of their harvest. "There were disputes between mill owners and farmers over the tara to be deducted from the produce. Mill owners demanded eight kilos per quintal, while farmers insisted on three. Because of this deadlock, paddy from several farms, including Sukumaran’s, remained uncollected for 12 days after harvest," said Thottappally ward member Sanjayan N.

Eventually, both sides agreed on five kilos of tara per quintal, and six kilos for produce with moisture content above 17 per cent. "After the incident, the mill owners agreed to procure the paddy. But for Sukumaran, the uncertainty continues," said Santosh.

Lida said she has taken up Sukumaran’s case with higher authorities and assured that she will do everything within her capacity to help him secure compensation.