The Vellayani Kayal Paristhithi Samrakshana Samithi is launching a renewed campaign for the protection of the freshwater lake. A human chain will be formed on November 1 to highlight the need for urgent steps to preserve the water body. Samithi chairman Rufus Daniel, patron Kalliyoor Sreedharan and other leaders told a press conference here on Thursday that the campaign assumed more importance in the light of the proposed international container transhipment terminal at Vizhinjam. They said unchecked sand- mining, land reclamation and construction activities were posing a threat to the lake. "The illegal activities have the blessings of a section of officials, political leaders and the mafia. Forty-four persons have lost their lives in the deep pits dug for sand mining," Mr. Daniel said. The samithi points out that the proposal to harvest the Vellayani lake to meet the drinking water demands of the terminal project and ancillary units would not materialise unless the government took speedy action to check deterioration of the water body. "Almost a third of the area of the lake is in the possession of farmers who have given up cultivation after the Irrigation Department stopped draining their farms. A majority of these farmers are now willing to let the government acquire their land," Mr. Daniel said. "The funds earmarked for the development of the Vizhinjam seaport should be used to compensate the farmers and protect the lake."The leaders also demanded measures to fence the lake and check pollution caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in vegetable farms in the neighbourhood. Mr. Daniel said people from different walks of life would participate in the human chain. M.P. Veerendrakumar, MP, is scheduled to inaugurate the event at the Kakkamoola bund road at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Leaders of various political parties and mass organisations are expected to participate.
The Hindu, 31st October 2008
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