Even as many of the ‘Emerging Kerala’ projects are viewed with suspicion and apprehension by the Greens and the Opposition parties, a convention styled ‘Emerging Heritage’ was organised at Aranmula recently in protest against the alleged attempt to covert 500 acres of paddy field for the proposed airport there.
The convention was inaugurated by well-known sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman.
In fact, the backtracking by the government from its earlier position and the decision to screen all the projects published on the Emerging Kerala Web site gives the impression that the apprehensions raised by others have some relevance, environmentalists alleged.
‘Emerging Heritage at Aranmula’ was organized jointly by yhe Thiruvaranmula Paithruka Grama Karma Samiti (TPGKS) and the Palliyoda-Pallivilakku Samrakshana Samiti (PPSS).
The TPGKS president K. Haridas and PPSS convener R. Induchoodan demanded that a detailed inquiry by a Central agency need to be held into various aspects of the controversial private airport project at Aranmula.
They said, “Emerging Heritage was aimed at protecting Aranmula that had been identified as a heritage village by the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of India.”
They said it is a non-violent mass movement to protect the paddy lands, wetlands, natural streams and the Pampa river from conversion by land mafias.
Induchoodan and Haridas said they would soon take up cleaning of the Valiyathode stream, portions of which had been reclaimed by the land mafia in the name of the airport project.
The Emerging Heritage will announce the future course of action to protect the nature, environment, culture, and the heritage of Aranmula, said Haridas.
The Chennai-based KGS Group has announced the setting up of the country’s first private greenfield airport project at Aranmula at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore.