KOCHI: KSU activists at Maharaja’s College protested against the acquisition of the college’s land by Kochi Metro Rail Limited to construct a walkway. On Monday, they formed a defence wall against the acquisition alleging that KMRL authorities have failed to fulfill the assurance given while taking over the college ground for the Metro project. A group of protesters blocked the acquisition process by laying siege to the road.
The protesters led by Jibin Babu, KSU unit president, were later arrested and removed by the police. DCC vice-president Muhammad Shiyas inaugurated the protest march. “While acquiring the college ground, the KMRL had promised to renovate the men’s and women’s hostels. But the Metro agency is yet to fulfill that promise. We can’t take the state government and the KMRL into confidence as they have constantly violated the promises made. Protest will continue until the KMRL fulfill their promises,” said KSU leaders.
Though the college had given 16.5 cents of land from its ground for Metro Rail project, it has not received the compensation amount of Rs 8.80 crore. “An RTI query on the matter revealed that the state government will not give any compensation for taking over the land owned by it,” said CICC Jayachandran, an ex-student of the College and a leader of the old students association.
