Say over 90
acres of wetlands converted in the last one decade
The controversy
over the proposed private international airport project at Aranmula has taken
curious turns with the Cabinet decision to regularise conversion of paddy
fields and wetlands that have taken place prior to 2005 as well as the
clearances reportedly given by various government agencies for the project,
allegedly violating prevailing laws, rules and regulations.
“Both the
Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Communist Party of
India(Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front were equally responsible for the
violations taken place in the name of the airport project at Aranmula, leaving
the environment, eco system and the hapless villagers at the receiving end,’’
said V.N. Gopinatha Pillai, vice-president, All-Kerala River Protection
Council.
Talking toThe
Hindu, Mr. Pillai said the illegal conversion of the biodiversity-rich
wetlands and Aranmula Puncha (paddy fields) began during the tenure of the UDF
government headed by A.K. Antony in 2003 and the illegal activity continued
during the successive governments headed by Oommen Chandy and V.S.
Achuthanandan.
‘Protests
silenced’
“The protests
by the local peasants and farm worker groups against the unabated illegal land
conversion at Aranmula were deftly silenced by certain vested interests
attached to various mainstream political parties. The local protests too turned
out to be mere cries in the wilderness in the backdrop of the ‘ambitious
development agenda’ aired by the land mafia with the strong backing of the
official-politician nexus,” Mr. Pillai said.
In the past one
decade, the land mafia had converted as many as 90 acres of paddy fields,
bulldozing an adjoining hill they purchased for the purpose, he said.
The authorities
concerned and the government had not only turned a blind eye towards the wanton
paddy field conversion but also given every support to the illegal activity, he
alleged. One could easily perceive blatant violations of key directives issued
by the Supreme Court and the High Court with regard to environment protection
and wetland conservation at Aranmula.
Now, the
government has decided to legalise all land conversions taken place prior to
2005 in a desperate attempt to protect the land mafia and save them from the
clutches of law, he alleged.
P. Induchoodan,
convener of the Palliyoda-Pallivilakku Samrakshana Samiti that has been
campaigning against the land conversion, said there was every reason to suspect
the involvement of top-level leaders of certain mainstream national parties in
the airport scam.
Probe into
monetary source
Mr. Induchoodan
said the samiti had already demanded a detailed investigation by a Central
agency into the monetary source of the promoter company and various
transactions taken place in the name of the airport project.
The
over-enthusiasm shown by certain Congress leaders and two MPs in supporting the
private company and the airport project was suspicious, he alleged.
Even the
Legislative Committee on Environment chaired by C.P. Mohammed had expressed
serious concern over the anti-environment activities taking place at Aranmula.
Panel member and former Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran, and the
socio-environmental activist Medha Patkar, have also demanded a CBI probe into
the Aranmula airport scam.
The promoter
company claimed to have obtained all necessary clearances, including the one
from the Union Ministry of Environment, for the proposed airport project, said
P. Prasad, environmentalist and district secretary of the Communist Party of
India.
Even the Prime
Minister’s Office had been brought under the shadow of suspicion with the
promoters’ statement that T.K.A. Nair, Prime Minister’s advisor, had helped
them obtain various clearances for the project, Mr. Prasad said.
· UDF, LDF blamed for violations
· Investigation by Central agency demanded
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3647892.ece
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