# Flood-hit Kuttanad triggers political row over spillway cleanup 2026-08-09T03:41:26+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A political controversy has erupted in flood-hit Kuttanad over the Thottappally spillway, with the CPI(M) and DYFI alleging delay in removing sandbar and debris that hampers water discharge. A ministerial team visited the region on Saturday, and DYFI activists were forcibly removed from a protest. Minister M. Liju said dredging records exist since 2018 but questioned their actual impact. Alappuzha MLA G. Sudhakaran dismissed the criticism, saying 39 of 40 shutters are open and the river mouth has widened to 100 metres. He blamed 16 structures on NH 66 for blocking water flow. Preliminary assessments show ₹55.64 crore in losses, with 1,515.15 hectares of crops damaged. Separately, the rebuilt Alappuzha-Changanassery road, reconstructed at ₹750 crore after 2018 floods, remains submerged, reviving questions about its design. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: AC road, CPI(M), Kerala floods, Kuttanad, Thottappally spillway, UDF Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/flood-hit-kuttanad-triggers-political-row-over-spillway-cleanup/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/flood-hit-kuttanad-triggers-political-row-over-spillway-cleanup/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.