TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Social activist and convenor of National Alliance for People movement (NAPM) Medha Patkar said the amendments brought in by the state government to the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act cannot be accepted. She was addressing a group of environmentalists, social activists and journalists at Gandhi Bhavan here on Monday. She said the amendment has ruled out the role of local monitoring committees and added it would lead to mangroves being destroyed in large number. She called upon the Left government in the state to be with the people and act for the people.
Medha said wetlands and paddy lands must be saved to ensure food security. She said concerned citizens such as poet Sugathakumari had asked her whether there was any hope for the society with such amend-ments to Wetland and Paddy Land Act. Medha said in places like Mumbai mangroves are being destroyed to build jogging paths. She urged the social activists of the state to sit in satyagraha at Preetha Shaji’s place who is fighting eviction under Surfaesi Act.