The Anti-LPG Terminal People’s Protest Samithi at Puthuvype is set to intensify its protest against the proposed LPG terminal. The samithi members have demanded that the IOC officials immediately give up the project in the island.
According to them, the terminal, which was approved in 2009, will risk the safety of the residents of Ellankunnapuzha panchayat where the plant will be set up. “The setting up of the plant near human inhabitation is very risky. We urge the authorities to move the project from Puthuvype,” said Samithi chairman Jayagosh M B.
The members stated that the IOC officials have defied the safety norms by deciding to build the plant near residential area. “The lives of thousands of residents are at risk because the proposed site is hardly 30 metres from the residential area. The plant coming up in the middle of a panchayat which faces water shortage is unthinkable. There is a high chance of an explosion taking place,” Jayagosh added. Meanwhile, the authorities have banned fishing in a certain stretch of the panchayat stating various issues.
“There is no doubt that once the project comes up, fishing will be banned in the entire area, putting thousands of fishermen off their livelihood. If the government continues with their anti-people decisions, we are planning to take up a huge protest,” said samithi convenor Xavier T J.
The samithi has been conducting protests against the project for the past three years. Currently, the authorities are in the process of setting up a barrier wall to the LPG plant.