Thrissur: The Athirappilly Samrakshana Samiti conducted a novel protest near Athirappilly waterfalls against the proposed hydro-electric project on Sunday with its volunteers kissing the trees near the waterfalls and taking a pledge to protect the biodiversity in the Athirappilly forest which forms a part of Western Ghats.
Lissy Sunny, Pompilai Orumai leader, who was in the forefront of the strike conducted by tea estate workers in Munnar, inaugurated the protest at 10 a.m. near the waterfalls in the presence of some 1,000 protestors.
Samiti Chairman P M Pushpangathan said that as both the Congress Party and CPM have clearly expressed their views in support of the 163 MW project, the Samithi would be forming a defence force of 10,000 volunteers to oppose the scheme.
“Several of the trees in the Athirappally and in Pukalappara near the waterfalls have already been marked for cutting and as per our understanding nearly 10,000 trees need to be chopped down for the project that will completely destroy the beauty the world famous waterfalls,” general convenor of the project Joy Vadakkumpadan said. Thumboormuzhi Dam, which normally is short of water during summer, will dry up if the project is implemented, he added.
