Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082051320300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Forum opposes move for industrial park

Staff Reporter

Eighty acres in Ramanattukara earmarked for park
This forms half the total wetland area there

KOZHIKODE: The Ramanattukara Nelvayal-Thaneerthadaka Samrakshana Samithi has opined that a public discussion ought to be initiated in the backdrop of the move to enact a law on protection of paddy fields and wetland areas in the State.

K.M. Bhaskara Panicker, president of the forum, and Basid Chelakkode, secretary, said they wished to bring to the notice of the government a proposed project that was opposed to the spirit of the proposed legislation. The forum pointed out that 80 acres of land that comprised as much as half the total wetland area in Ramanattukara panchayat in Kozhikode district had been earmarked to set up an industrial park for Kinfra.

The samithi held detailed discussions on the issue and also drew up a report on the repercussions of the proposed industrial park project on agriculture in the region.

‘Use it for cultivation’

Land that was fit for agricultural use ought to be used for paddy cultivation making use of the benefits being accorded by the government for rice cultivation now, the samithi opined.

The government, instead of enquiring into the reasons for the land not being used for paddy cultivation, was transferring it for industrial purposes.

‘Look for arid land’

The measure would affect the food security of the area. The government must look for arid land elsewhere to set up the industrial park, the samithi said.

The samithi appealed that the government retract the move that would lead to loss of a vast extent of the wetland in the panchayat and also lead to a loss in the agriculture sector.