Kerala - Kochi   

Moolamppilly stir called off

KOCHI: People displaced from their land at Moolamppilly ended their 46-day protest action at Menaka on Sunday in a gesture of reconciliation with the district administration.

Joseph Karikkassery, Auxiliary Bishop of Varappuzha, served an Easter feast to those who had been on Satyagraha, calling off the protest, a press release here said.

The agitation had been organised by a coordination committee of organisations of the displaced people. Their land had been acquired for laying a road to the Vallarpadom project site.

Bishop Karikkassery praised the protesters for their discipline and strong protest, and said they had been evicted in violation of their rights.

He said the united action by people made the government announce a rehabilitation package.

Francis Kalathunkal, general convener of the coordination committee, presided over the function.

The release said 17 organisations stood together to get the package announced. It expressed anxiety that no mention had been made of a time-bound implementation of the package.

The release expressed the committee’s dissatisfaction with the “discriminatory” settlement packages elsewhere in the district. The committee demanded that a timeframe for the implementation of the package be announced quickly. Compensation and house rent should be paid immediately and the land promised to the displaced should be handed over to them within a month after developing basic facilities.

If these demands were not met, the people would be forced to resume their protest, the released added.

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