To counter Central clearance legally
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has alleged that the United Democratic Front government is trying to impose the controversial private airport project on the hapless villagers of Aranmula by including it in the Emerging Kerala meet.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, LDF Aranmula Assembly committee convener T.K.G. Nair and president A.K. Muraleedhara Kurup asked the government to abandon the project in the larger interests of the people for protecting the paddy fields, wetlands and the glory of the heritage village of Aranmula.
They said that a natural stream across the Aranmula puncha (paddy fields), besides a vast expanse of the paddy fields, had been illegally converted in the name of the airport project.
The Legislative Committee on Environment had visited Aranmula in February following opposition to the project from the villagers and socio-environmental organisations.
Disastrous impacts
The committee and several experts had reported that conversion of the paddy fields and wetlands would cause disastrous impacts on the environment and hence the project should be shelved, Prof. Nair said.
LDF convener VaikomViswan would inaugurate a march to the Aranmula puncha on Sunday demanding restoration of the natural stream that was converted in the name of the airport project, he said.
The march would begin from Aranmula Iykara junction at 10.30 a.m.
K.P. Rajendran, former Revenue Minister; Mathew T. Thomas, former Transport Minister, and A.A. Aziz, Revolutionary Socialist Party State secretary, would address the march.
· Says LDF had given only conditional clearance
· LDF to take out march to Aranmula puncha tomorrow
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3899802.ece
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