India proposed that a bund (Dam) be made across the river so that seawater would not be allowed to come inside Kuttanad during summer, allowing farmers to cultivate an extra crop per year. The project was planned in three phases, the south side, the north side and another phase to join the two sections. The project was delayed and by the time the first two phases were complete the entire money allotted for the project ran out and left the final phase in limbo. The farmers who were expecting many financial benefits after the completion of the project decided to take matters into their own hands and one night in 1972, a large group of farmers filled the gap between the north and the south side with earth. To this day, the earth embankment between the two sections of the bund remains. With this, it was possible to close the regulator of shutters during December–June when the saline water enters, and then open it during monsoon. Once the Thanneermukkam bund and spillway became operational two crops were possible in Kuttanad. Even though the bund has improved the quality of life of the farmers, the bund is alleged to have caused severe environmental problems. The backwaters which were abundant with fish and part of the staple food of the people of the region require a small amount of salt water for its breeding. The bund has caused deterioration of fish varieties in the region and the fishermen opposed to the bund as of 2005. The bund has also disrupted the harmony of the sea with the backwaters and has caused problems not foreseen before the bund like the omnipresence of the water weeds. Before creation of the bund the salt water tended to cleanse the backwaters, but this no longer occurs, leading to pollution of the backwaters and the nearby land. Notable natives and residents Politics Kuttanad assembly constituency was a part of Alappuzha. After the Lok Sabha delimitation in 2008, it now belongs to the Mavelikkara constituency. See also Alappuzha Thekkekara Thakazhy Edathua Kavalam Champakulam Kandankary Kainakary Chengannur Mavelikara Kayamkulam Kunnumma Ramankary References Further reading Thirst Below Sea Level, M Suchitra, The Hindu, 15 July 2003 KT Rammohan. Tales of Rice: Kuttanad, Southwest India. Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006. KT Rammohan. 2008. 'Rice Fields Reclamation in Southern India' in Helaine Selin (ed). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology,