registered society in which professionals and nature-lovers are
members, has renewed its appeal to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan
to ensure that the Sarovaram Tourism Project on Kottuli wetlands is
executed without causing any damage to the fragile eco-system of the
region."All officials concerned with the implementation of the project
should be given clear instruction to adhere to the rules and
regulations related to environmental care and protection," KSDI
president A. Achyuthan and secretary A.K. Prasanth said in their
representation to the Chief Minister.In the memorandum, which was
given to the Chief Minister when he was in Kozhikode to inaugurate the
Sarovaram bio-park on December 7, the KSDI alleged that the project
was launched without conducting an environment impact assessment
study.The Department of Tourism appeared to have decided to do the
mandatory environment impact assessment study after commencement of
the project, and after causing much damage to the flora and fauna of
the wetland region, the KSDI spokespersons alleged.The memorandum
pointed out that the District Collector of Kozhikode had also brought
to the notice of the Chief Minister the environmental degradation
caused at the project site.KSDI had also appealed to the Union
Ministry of Environment and Forest to advise the State government to
refrain from causing "environmental damage to Kottuli wetland
eco-system in the pretext of developing tourism facilities."Dr.
Achyuthan recalled that the KSDI had adopted a resolution at a
'People's Forum' it had organised at Kozhikode Town Hall in February
this year urging the government to take necessary action to protect
the wetland system of Kozhikode district from Kadalundi to
Akalapuzha.The Central government had declared the region as a wetland
of national importance.
The Hindu, 12th December 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment