Nelliyalam:

The wetland along with Padanthorai is the wetland surveyed by the group which is at the lowest elevation at 931m above sea level. The land is surrounded by tea as the wetland itself is situated in a tea estate.

The wetland is in the form of a small stream and showed similar vegetation as seen in other wetlands surveyed.

Padanthorai: (Type-Rural)

General Narrative Criteria:

The huge wetland has already been converted to an agricultural field growing a diversity of crops. The crops being grown are bush beans, ginger, arecanut, banana and paddy.

The field slopes down from the tea plantation from where in it slopes further upto some kms. Paddy is the main crop with vegetables grown in the drier seasons. The lands with the steeper gradients grown paddy even in the drier seasons as it is water logged even then due to the drained water it gets from the fields higher up.The wetland area here has been occupied by 75 families with most of the families owing between 1-2 acres of land. 90% of the land is owned by Chettis and some by Malayalis and Tamils. According to them the major part of the land started being converted into agricultural land some 20yrs back.

The stream which flows through the wetland originates in Munnamachi and drains into Srimadurai stream and then towards theppakadu .

 The wetland area here has been occupied by 75 families with most of the families owing

between 1-2 acres of land. 90% of the land is owned by Chettis and the rest

Discussion with villagers

Malayalis and Tamils. According to them the major part of the land started being converted into agricultural land some 20yrs back.

The stream which flows through the wetland originates in Munnamachi and drains into Srimadurai stream and then towards theppakadu . The water table is at the ground level mostly, or maximum at 8ft

Threats

initially there was no problem of water sharing with most of them owing wells and the wetlands being perfect for paddy cultivation. Of late people in the higher part of the wetland have started planting arecanut which according to the people owing land in the lower side soaks or blocks up the flow of water in their fields; a very essential condition for cultivating paddy. The only problem which can be seen is that the wells in the fields are used for drinking purposes also and there is a great possibility of the water being contaminated with pesticides.