Thiruvananthapuram: Social activists, academicians, poets, architects, photographers, filmmakers, scientists and over 35 groups have urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene and protect the two-acre Santhivanam area under threat from the 110-KV line being constructed in North Paravur.
Signed by poetess and environmental activist B. Sugathakumari, the petition has been supported by Prof R.V.G. Menon, Dr V.S.Vijayan, B.R.P. Bhaskar, Civic Chandran, Prof M.G.S. Narayanan and Dr S. Santhi.
SEEK (Payannur), Malabar Natural History Society, Cochin Natural History Society, Thanal, Waders and Warblers, Naithal, Waynad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti, Eco-solutions, River Research Centre, Hornbill Foundation, Western Ghats Ekopana Samiti and Tree Walk have endorsed the petition.
The petition has submitted five demands:
1. Stop the construction of the tower and related activities of the Kerala State Electricity Board Limited, including cutting of trees and clearing of land.
2. Constitute an able, technically professionally expert panel to evaluate and review all alternate paths through which the KV line can be constructed with minimum damage to the landscape and biodiversity.
3. Take into serious consideration studies on the biodiversity value of rare and endangered flora and fauna in Santhivanam where studies by experts from Kerala Forest Research Institute, Society for Environmental Educa-tion, (SEEK, Payyannur), Cochin Natural History Society (CNHS), Malabar Natural History Society and Thanal and declare Santhivanam as a protected area with support from Panchayat Biodiversity Monitoring Cell.
4. Honour and award the conservation education activities being done in Santhivanam Palli-koodam by Meena Menon and her late father for the past four decades with the help of the Haritha Kerala Mission.
5. Provide physical security for Meena and her young daughter.
It pointed out that the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Cochin Natural History Society, Malabar Natural History Society, Thanal and Society for Environmental Educa-tion have proved the biodiversity value of the three sacred groves on the two-acre campus, with a heritage trail of 200 years.
The letter to the chief minister also highlights the pioneering role that Ms Meena Menon and her late father Ravindranath Menon played in maintaining this as a school for learning and exploration of nature and biodiversity especially for children.
Tree Walk- Thiruvananthapuram along with Save Santhivanam Samithi, National Alliance of People’s Movements-Kerala and Lohia Vichara Vedi have taken the initiative for approaching the chief minister.
