Kerala - Kozhikode   

Chief Minister's intervention sought

Special Correspondent

Eco groups submit memorandum to Achuthanandan

KOZHIKODE: Environment groups have appealed to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to prevent transfer of nearly 80 acres of the Kottuli wetlands in the heart of the city to the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, as they fear it will end up in the hands of "the real estate lobby".

Representatives of the Coordination Committee for Protection of Kozhikode Wetlands, Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad and the Society for Protection of Environment Kerala (SPEK) made this appeal to the Chief Minister in a joint memorandum when he was in Kozhikode on Tuesday. They said in their memorandum that the Kottuli wetlands in the heart of the city had survived "the greed of the real estate lobby" only because of the organised resistance put up by the local people in the last 15 years.

However, there were reports that 80 acres of the wetlands which was now with the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for its proposed sewage project was about to be handed over to the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation for a paltry price.

A public convention in Kozhikode on June 28 had strongly condemned the move since the wetland system was of immense ecological value to the city.

It could be converted to a green belt, a portion of it could be used to set up a water treatment plant to improve the city's drainage system.

"Instead, if it is used to establish amusement facilities for tourists the wetlands will be destroyed. Wastewater generated in the city will increase considerably when the Japanese-aided drinking water project is commissioned."

"This water will have to be drained out as there will be extensive contamination of groundwater if it is allowed to percolate down. The wetlands can be used for the sewage project."

"Giving the wetlands for real estate in the name of tourism development will be an act of cruelty towards the city and its people," spokespersons of the eco groups, said in their joint memorandum.

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