People have reasons to suspect corruption and concealing of facts behind various clearances that the private company claims to have obtained for the proposed airport project at Aranmula, Thomas P. Thomas, Associate Professor of Botany at Kozhencherry St. Thomas College has said.
People’s representatives who blindly supported conversion of not less than 500 acres of paddy field in Aranmula were bound to explain to the common people whether the stand taken by them was on the basis of fool-proof scientific data and in consultation with experts, Prof. Thomas said at a cultural meet on the ‘Pampa river and Pampa valley civilisation’ organised by the Thiruvaranmula Paithruka Grama Karma Samiti at Aranmula on Thursday.
The government and the people’s representatives should place the environmental impact assessment report submitted by the company for a debate by experts before reaching a final decision on the same, he said.
Prof. Thomas said the report did not even mention that the land identified for the project was a paddy field and wetland.
Fr. Thomas Peeliyanickal, chairman, Kuttanad Vikasana Samiti, who inaugurated the meet, said conservation of the Pampa was a necessity and the government and the people’s representatives should ensure any development envisaged for the valley was in tune with nature. Wanton conversion of paddy fields, wetlands, and natural streams would prove catastrophic for the river, he said.
“What is the use of setting up a airport by destroying paddy fields and natural streams, and places of worship?” he asked.
Rajaraja Varma, president of the Pandalam Palace Managing Committee, presided over the function. V.N. Gopinatha Pillai, All-Kerala River Protection Council State vice-president and Kummanam Rajasekharan, Hindu Aikyavedi State general secretary participated.
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