Pavaratty: The panchayat-owned playground in Ward 8 has turned into a sprawling mud pit after two large ponds were dug to store and process soil extracted from the Peringadu river.

The two ponds were dug to store the soil and mud extracted from the river and to facilitate seggregation of soil from mud. The playground was allocated for this purpose under a contract between the panchayat and the Sivalaya Group in connection with the National Highway construction. The contract also stipulated that the ground must be restored to its original condition once the contract period ended.

However, the company has shifted its operations to another site, citing insufficient soil volume at this stretch of the river. Despite this, the ground has not been restored as per the agreement, and the massive pits remain unfilled. With the election season approaching, no one is taking responsibility to address the issue.

The soil extraction from the river was approved by the District Collector and the Irrigation Department, in view of a mounting public demand to deepen the Peringadu river, which had become clogged with mud and soil. It was in line with these decisions that the local body too granted permission to use the playground for storing the extracted soil. But over time, the project has had more adverse effects than benefits. 

The one-and-a-half-acre panchayat playground has been lying idle for four years. The area that once hosted cricket, football, and other sports events is now covered with road construction debris and stones, while the remaining space has been overtaken by shrubs and wild vegetation.

Amid rising protests by local youths over the panchayat’s inaction, the two ponds remain in the area. Locals, led by activist Tajuddin Koorikkadu, have demanded urgent action to restore the playground.