Kottayam: Fishing and clam workers along the Thanneermukkom Bund are facing growing hardship as the abrupt opening and closing of the bund's shutters continue to disrupt their livelihoods. The erratic operations have led to rising water levels in low-lying areas and a sharp decline in fish and clam availability, leaving the community grappling with uncertainty.

Local residents say the lake water has remained inundated in low-lying areas for a prolonged period. The rising groundwater level has reportedly crossed septic tank levels, forcing families living along the lake banks to struggle with basic sanitation needs. The extended closure of the bund has also curtailed the inflow of fish from the sea, resulting in a loss of work for fishermen. At the same time, restrictions on saline water flow have adversely affected clam cultivation, further impacting clam workers.

Workers allege that shutters in the third block of the bund are frequently opened without prior warning during low tide, damaging fishing nets and other equipment. They have called for urgent intervention by the authorities to ensure regulated shutter operations and protect their livelihoods.

"The government has turned a deaf ear to the long-pending demand of fishing workers and environmentalists to keep the Bund open for a year on a trial basis. Urgent steps should also be taken to deepen the lake by removing silt and conserving the coast," said D Babu, District Secretary of the Matsya Thozhilali Federation, AITUC.

KV Prakashan, District Secretary of the Matsya Thozhilali Congress, noted that the flow of water remains strong as the bund shutters are opened and closed regularly. "The risk of accidents is high under these conditions and fishing cannot be carried out safely here. An urgent solution is required to address this," he said.