A campaign to save a cluster of sacred groves spread across nearly two acres at Vazhikkulangara near Paravur is gathering momentum, including on social media.
Santhivanam, the green campus that is home to several species of reptiles, birds and animals, is now being threatened by the Kerala State Electricity Board’s proposed Cherai-Mannam 110-kV line complete with a tower.
If constructed, it will pass right through the groves, believed to have been preserved for over two centuries.
“The KSEB has already started work on five piles, which are being concreted at a depth of 50 metres, for supporting the tower inflicting extensive damage on the groves and groundwater. This is being done despite there being an alternative route for drawing the line, sparing the groves.
“While pursuing all legal options to protect the groves, we have simultaneously embarked on a campaign for creating awareness about the need to preserve them, with the help of environmental activists from across the State,” said Meena Menon, on whose property the groves stand.
An awareness campaign being organised by the Santhivanam Samrakshana Samithi (SSS) and to be attended by environmental scientists and activists from across the State will be held in the area on Saturday to chart out a protest campaign.
“The KSEB claims to have cut down three trees by now, but according to our assessment, already 10 trees are gone with nearly 50 small and big trees in danger of being uprooted,” said Kusumam Joseph, environmental activist and convener of SSS, which has already stated distributing pamphlets to create awareness among the local people about the importance of the groves.
Ms. Menon said the demand for preserving the groves should come up from the new generation to put an end to environmental double standards in the name of development. An online campaign, #savesanthivanam, is beginning to capture the imagination of youngsters.
In a Facebook post, writer and orator Sunil P. Elayidom said attempts to eliminate Santhivanam, which is the source of pure air and water for an entire locality, with scant regard for the environmental commitment of its owners, is unacceptable.
“Its owners have preserved this piece of private land as a patch of dense green without thinking of its real estate value, for the benefit of the society,” he said, urging the KSEB to look at other options.