Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) has demanded the government to immediately stop the laying of boundary stones across the state, marking the land that has to be acquired for K-Rail's SilverLine project.
KSSP termed the government move "anti-democratic" since the stones were being laid without adequately discussing the project's blueprint and social impact studies with the people. The government was also laying stones without finalising the alignment.
The Parishad also took umbrage at the official explanation that the stones were being laid to get loans from foreign funding agencies.
KSSP made the public statement a day after CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stated that the organisation was not opposed to the project, and that its suggestions have been taken into consideration.
According to available information, SilverLine, a 529.45-km semi-high speed rail line linking Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod, is not a priority for the development of the State. The interests of the rich are of priority now, KSSP pointed out.
SilverLine majorly envisages transportation facilities linking new townships that may come up near the proposed K-Rail stations. It has been estimated that the real estate business in such townships alone would rake in a revenue of more than Rs 10,000. However, while the wealthy minority would benefit from the rail project, it's environmental and social impact would be more on the common people, who form the majority, Parishad president O M Shankaran and general secretary P Gopakumar said.
Incidentally, the High Court of Kerala on Thursday directed the government to refrain from laying boundary stones with the marking, 'K-Rail', but allowed the survey to be carried out.
Memorandum submitted to CM
A collective of environmentalists and social activities submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday, the death anniversary of poet and environmental and social activist Sugathakumari.
The activists demanded the government to withdraw from the SilverLine project, considering the environmental, social, cultural and economic dangers and repercussions of the plan.
The memorandum, submitted under the leadership of veteran journalist B R P Bhaskar, pointed out that Sugathakumari would have led the protest against the project if she was alive.
