Monday, Jul 19, 2004
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Kochi
By Our Staff Reporter
KOCHI, JULY 18. C. K. Manishankar, secretary of CPI(M) Council Party in the Corporation, has demanded that all construction activity around Mangalavanam be stopped as that would affect the ecology of the area. Mr. Manishankar has pointed out that the `Eco Township' project proposed by the Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, for constructing concrete structures in Mangalavanam by the Kerala State Housing Board would affect the protected area. Mangalavanam, located in the heart of the city, had been declared as a protected bird watching centre in 1991 by the Left Democratic Government, he pointed out. The Housing Board chairman and the Revenue Department officials have said that the construction will be confined to the land handed over to the board by the Revenue Department, keeping clear of the 77 acres of land under the Forest Department, pointed out Mr. Manishankar. But, Mangalavanam includes the 4.92 acres of land that had earlier been the Railways Goods Yard, the land under the BPCL, the property where the old oil company of Burma Shell was functioning and 20 acres of Revenue poramboke land. Every year, thousands of birds in many species arrive here, making it an important place in the migratory route of birds. The construction of the Eco Township would affect the present atmosphere of the Mangalavanam, Mr. Manishankar pointed out. Hundreds of trees would have to be cut down for clearing the space for construction. Roads and electrical lines will necessitate the felling of more trees. With the surrounding tree cover gone, the portion remaining in the centre will be isolated, he argued . He welcomed the stand of the Fisheries and Excise Minister, K.V. Thomas, reflecting the sentiments of the local people in this issue. He pointed out that the Minister himself had earlier banned the Corporation's attempts to bring down an unauthorised compound wall constructed by the Fisheries Department in the canal that brings water into the Mangalavanam. He demanded Mr. Thomas to refrain from hunting with the hunter and running with the hare and ask his own department to bring down the wall narrowing the main canal to Mangalavanam. He further pointed out that the moves to take over the land of the ERG for parking space for the High Court complex located within the area should be abandoned.
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