The people’s forum for conservation of the Western Ghats has warned against government-backed developmental moves that threaten to destroy the Western Ghats and its ecosystem.
“We must conserve the Western Ghats if we want Kerala to exist,” said John Peruvanthanam and S. Babuji, chairman and general convener respectively of the Paschima Ghatta Samrakshana Ekopana Samithi, when a rally they were leading for the cause reached here on Monday.
They said many people’s representatives in the State had become agents of quarry and land mafia. They lashed out at P.V. Anvar, MLA, for his controversial water theme park at Kakkadampoyil. “Mr. Anvar would not have been allowed to construct that park at such an ecologically sensitive area if any environment impact study had been done,” said Kusumam Joseph, P.D. Pushpa, T.M. Satyan, and Mustafa Pallikkuth who accompanied the rally.
They demanded that all quarrying should be brought under government control. “Quarrying should be made a public sector business,” said Mr. Babuji.
The rally had begun from Vellarikkundu, Kasaragod, on August 16. They staged street plays at several places in the district, attracting people’s attention towards the cause. The rally will conclude at Vizhinjam on October 16.