Puzhathi residents are up in arms

An action committee of local residents of Puzhathi village in Chirakkal grama panchayat here agitating against the alignment of the National Highway bypass from Chungam to Chala to circumvent Kannur town has alleged that the present alignment will result in eviction of more people and cause environmental damage.

Action committee functionaries said at a press conference here on Tuesday that it still remained a puzzle why the alignment announced in 2016 was changed and the present alignment was finalised. The authorities were not ready to modify the present alignment despite the agitation of the residents, they said adding the earlier alignment was better and more convenient. They said though the land to widen the existing highway was identified at Puthiyatheru here, it had not been acquired.

Surveys had been done thrice in the areas since 2011 and 3A notifications were published twice and survey stones had been planted, the leaders said. That alignment had been changed in July last year through an extraordinary gazette notification, they said.

The new alignment was in violation of the National Highways Authority of India norms , they pointed out. The new alignment would result in relocation of 65 families, they said adding that the number of houses to be demolished would be much lower if the earlier alignment was accepted. The present alignment would also require the demolition of an entire hill, they added.

Action committee chairman M.A. Hamza and general convener N.M. Koya said the residents would oppose the visit of NHAI staff in their area. They would also support the agitation of Vayalkilikal against the NH bypass at Keezhattur here.