Conduct environment impact study, says council

PALAKKAD: A convention organised by the Malampuzha Dam Protection
Council and other environment organisations called upon the government
to conduct an environment impact assessment study before going ahead
with the move to remove silt from the Malampuzha reservoir. K.P.
Thrivikramji, former head of the Department of Geology, University of
Kerala, who inaugurated the convention, said the removal of sand from
the Malampuzha Dam was not in the interests of the reservoir, but that
of the "sand lobby." He said the decision lacked scientific approach
and was taken with business interests in mind, and would have a far
reaching impact on the environment of the area. The convention was
addressed by the former scientist of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
E.P. Jayaram, S. Shankar of the Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi, Malampuzha Dam Protection Committee vice-president A.
Bhaskaran and secretary P.S. Panikkar, among others.

The Hindu, July 12