A LITTLE NETHERLAND NEAR TRICHUR

Even in early nineteenth century, the area to the south and west of Trichur, was a huge lake, cut off from the sea by a narrow gap at Manaloor, allowing free flow of sea water into the lake, during summer, rendering it unsuitable for cultivation. In the rainy season from June to September, Karuvannore puzha discharged its waters into this lake. Merchant ships (huge wooden vessels ) could easily row up to Chetty Angady. As land routes were developed and the lake route was unsuitable for steam ships, an Englishman (he may, as well, be an Irishman-I have no details ) had a brilliant idea of cutting off the neck of the lake by constructing a barrage and regulating the flow of water from and into the sea! Barrages were also built at various points in the river, and, water diverted into the lake by a network of canals, known by his name, as there were no dams in those days and the flow of water tremendous, not only in the summer months, but also during retreating monsoon during October and November. There was a huge flood , in 1923 (local year 1099), when flood waters entered our ancestral home, built in a semicircular bend of the river, the kitchen became a pond and cooking had to be done in poojamury,at a higher level,used for worship of Gods! The flood and cyclone in november 1940 is still fresh in my memory. When the rainy season was over, the sea water was cut off.The rain water collected in the canal network was used for irrigating rice fields measuring thousands of hectares, called colpadam (which until then was just a lake). The pumping stations for removing unwanted water and for pumping canal water into the fields, when needed, can still be seen.Alas, during recent years, the fields are not used for cultivation as before. Many roads have been built and the area, partially, converted into residential plots. As the land level is lower than the sea level, it is ‘Netherland’