V S Achuthanandan. File photoThiruvananthapuram: Kerala will turn into a desert if the hills in the state are levelled and the paddy fields filled up, veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan has warned. Referring to the Keezhattur and Plachimada agitations, Achuthanadan said in his World Water Day message that water sources will disappear if one follows the imperialist development model.
‘Will accept support of all sections’
Meanwhile, ‘Vayalkilikal’, the group engaged in the agitation at Keezhattur, said that it was open to receiving the support of all sections, including RSS and SDPI. The leaders of Vayalkilikal condemned the statement of some CPM leaders who had accused them of having Maoist connections. The Vayalkilikal said that they, in fact, had drawn inspiration from the CPM’s agitation against the filling of paddy fields at Aranmula.
Central Environment Ministry intervenes
Union environment minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that the Ministry would make an effective intervention in the Keezhattur issue after thoroughly studying all aspects. The minister was responding to a team led by BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, which had called on him over the matter and submitted a memorandum.
The memorandum said that an environmental study should be conducted to assess the impact of reclaiming 25 acres of paddy fields at Keezhattur.
“The CPM is supporting the cause of soil mafia and big contractors. That party owes an explanation to the people over its contradictory stands at Aranmula and Keezhattur,” said Kummanam.
