KANNUR: After a brief interval, the Keezhattur issue has come alive again as the Vayalkkilikal and Keezhattur Aikyadardya Samithi have decided to move the High Court in the light of the 3(D) notification by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) ignoring the report submitted by the Central environment team suggesting a change of alignment to protect the paddy fields.
A meeting of Vayalkkilikal and Keezhattur Aikyadardya Samithi will be held at Taliparamba on Friday to discuss the issue and formulate plans to move forward with the agitation.
“The environment committee had submitted its report in June itself suggesting a change in alignment as the present plan will cause serious impact on the environment,” said a leader of Keezhattur Aikyadardya Samithi. “The committee had suggested the new alignment should not touch the paddy fields and the canal flowing alongside. But, the NHAI conveniently ignored the report,” he said.
“We will move the High Court for obtaining a stay in connection with the construction of the bypass. The decision of the NHAI was taken in haste. It is suspicious,” said Suresh Keezhattur, leader of the Vayalkkilikal.
As of now, the situation looks complicated as the report of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests was ignored by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. If the recommendations of the Ministry of Environment are ignored, that will put the Union Government in an embarrassing position, as the report raises serious concerns about the project.
BJP leaders in the district, who had stepped in to reap benefits from the agitation in the CPM stronghold too looks puzzled as they failed to convince Union Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the report of the environment team which visited the area. As a result, the CPM will be laughing at the predicament of the saffron unit.
As far as the notification is concerned, the agitators of Thuruthi have decided to move a contempt of court petition in the High Court.
The High Court had earlier issued a stay on the acquisition of land at Thuruthi on the complaint filed by the agitators in connection with the protection of a sacred grove (Kavu) in the region. The present notification is in violation of that order, they said.
Ignoring suggestions might not be prudent
The situation looks complicated as the report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests was ignored by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. If the recommendations of the Ministry of Environment are ignored, that will put the Union Government in an embarrassing position, as the ministry’s report raises serious concerns about the project.