KIZHAKKAMBALAM: Sprawling over 31.55 sq km, Kizhakkambalam panchayat is blessed with a thick cover of lush greenery. If the hilly areas are dotted with rubber plantations, the slopes are laden with coconut, areca nut, pepper, ginger and tapioca and other plants. Kizhakkambalam is a hot tourism destination. Kadambrayar, Orakkadu Mala and Povakkunnam Mala vie with one another to woo tourists. Though agriculture is the primary occupation of the people here, the panchayat is now gearing up to acquire an industrial status. The dream is just a stone’s throw away as the panchayat now has about 20 thriving industries.
Everything looks rosy from outside, but things are really bleak. The struggle to become an industry-friendly panchayat has left its water and air severely polluted. The wells brimming with water are contaminated and of no use. More than half of the paddy fields cannot be used as the effluents flowing from the industrial units have percolated into them. The panchayat officials, residents and the environmentalists are fighting hard to offset the damage created by some industrial units in the area.