Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Leaders oppose Pathrakadavu project

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A near-unanimity appears to be emerging among various political parties in the State against the implementation of the proposed hydroelectric project at Pathrakadavu near the environmentally sensitive Silent Valley.

Participating in a discussion organised by a coordination committee of nature protection groups here on Saturday, representatives of political parties made it clear that they were not in favour of any interventions which would destroy the nature. Even the representative of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) C.P. Narayanan said that his party would not press for the Pathrakadavu project if detailed studies established that it would destroy the fragile environment in the Silent Valley area.

Former Union Minister of State and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) O. Rajagopal said he had already written to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to avoid implementing the project. The Chief Minister, in his reply, had informed him that the State Government had not yet decided to implement it.

Former Minister for Forests and Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said he would lend all out support to the movement against the Pathrakadavu project. He said the proposed buffer zone for the Silent Valley should include the Pathrakadavu area also.

Leader of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) T.J. Chandrachoodan conceded that his party could not disown the decision of the LDF to give clearance to the project.

However, his party would not have any problem in correcting its stand if it was established that the project would damage the fragile environment at Silent Valley.

Noted environmentalists Sugathakumari, R.V.G. Menon, S. Satheeshchandran Nair and C.R. Neelakandan spoke on the occasion.

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