Kerala - Kochi   

Green activists plan protests to save Mangalavanam

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JAN. 25. A meeting of various environmental organisations has protested the move to establish the parking space for new High Court complex on the buffer zone of Mangalavanam, the green lung of the city.

The first meeting held by the environmental organisations, to discuss the threat posed to Mangalavanam by the parking lot, also decided to initiate protest measures against the move and convene a convention in which renowned environmentalists would participate.

Mangroves

Mangalavanam, the green activists pointed out, was rich in mangrove habitation and any move to tamper it would be a challenge to social justice.

Scientists and agencies like the Food and Agriculture Organisation had emphasised the significance of mangroves while analysing the impact of natural disasters like tsunami.

The activists called for dropping the move that would lead to the destruction of the diverse ecosystem of Mangalavanam, as there were alternative spaces for the parking lot.

Even though the official version contends that only the buffer zone of the Mangalavanam is being used as parking space, the activists pointed out that any variation in the buffer zone would be reflected on the core area.

Vehicle pollution

The pollution from the vehicles using the parking space would eventually destroy the rare plant species in Mangalavanam and force the reptile species out of their habitat.

They demanded that the number of vehicles coming to the High Court complex should be restricted and multi-storeyed parking space constructed instead of destroying the Mangalavanam.

It should be noted that the city had no planning for parking facilities so far, they added.

C.R. Neelakantan, Earth Society; Yesudas Varappuzha, Plachimada Anti-Coca Cola Solidarity Committee; Jacob Lazar, People's Union for Civil Liberties; Purushan Eloor and Zakkir Hussain, Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samiti; K.A. Faizal, Solidarity; Geo Jose, Earthworm - Organic Manure Processing Society; G. Gopinath, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad; Vijayachandran, Jala Samrakshana Samiti; Benny Joseph, Janapaksham; Seetharaman, Aluva Environment Group; C.M. Joy, Sacred Heart College, Thevara; Jyoti Narayanan, Kerala Sthree Vedi and Nandakumar, Karimukal Carbon Malineekarana Virudha Samiti attended the meeting.

KSSP rally

The Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad will organise a march on Thursday evening to raise public awareness regarding the move to construct a parking lot for the Kerala High Court at Mangalavanam.

The rally will start from Rajendra Maidan at 4 p.m. and conclude near Mangalavanam.

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