THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The new Central University campus to be set up at Kudappanakunnu has been well received by the residents, who have been agitating against rampant encroachment and destruction of the region, but stressed for an environment-friendly campus and protection of nature, especially the Orange ‘poika’.
The District Collector was, on Wednesday, directed to identify five acres of land in Kudappanakunnu for setting up the campus.
Over the last several months, the people of Kudappanakunnu have been agitating against the encroachment and the move to dump waste near the Orange ‘poika’, a landlocked natural water body in the hill which is almost on the verge of extinction. The pond is a source of water to the many streams, ponds and wells in the surrounding areas.
Welcoming the government decision, Sivan Kutty, a resident of Kudapanakunnu who is part of the agitation, said: ‘’We welcome the campus here. But, at the same time, the environment should be protected and the constructions should be eco-friendly.’’
Stressing that they will not allow any more encroachment and destruction of the pond, he said the agitation will be intensified if the government goes ahead with any programme that causes imbalance to the environment.
K Muraleedharan, who is the local MLA, also noted that the environment will be protected while setting up the Central University campus.
Another resident Raman Nair, who is also in the forefront of the agitation against the destruction of the Orange pond, noted that the Central University had proposed to set up the campus by protecting the environment.
He also pointed out that there was a move to provide land to Suchitwa Mission very close to the pond, which only could be destructive. ‘’In the name of providing land to the Suchitwa Mission, the government is allegedly moving ahead with setting up a garbage treatment plant.
The pond is a source for all the streams and wells in and around Kudappanakunnu. We will not allow the garbage treatment plant here, which will only sound the death knell of the water body,’’ he said.
Earlier, the agitators had given many representations to the authorities for saving the pond, but nothing concrete has been done.
The pond, which once extended to more than 10 acres, has now shrunk considerably. Widespread encroachment has also been reported.
The rampant encroachment and destruction of the hill nearby has led to the reduction of the catchment area.