Kochi: Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) on Tuesday resumed works of the Cherai-Mannam 110 KV line at Santhivanam, the more than 200-year old private forest area with groves and ponds in Vazhikulangara near North Paravur.
Though the works had to be stopped due to strong public protest, the Board resumed works by ensuring minimal damage in the area as per the instruction of Ernakulam district collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla.
Construction of the transmission tower and line have resumed under thick blanket of security. “More than 500 police men surrounded the Santhivanam compound by not allowing people coming to express solidarity to the protest. V.D Satheesan MLA, Sivan Madhathil, environmentalists Sobheendran and Prof M. K Prasad visited the area," said Meena Menon, owner of Santhivanam.
The authorities disregarded the protest raised buy the the house-owner and a few of her friends protested against deployment of police personnel and preventing supporters from entering the compound. The KSEBL removed the slurry from piling pits deposited in the forest, as per the district collector's order.
Meanwhile, the Santhivanam Samra-kshana Samithi has decided to intensify the protest with the support of various environmental groups from across the state.
