Pathanamthitta: The mass movement launched by the villagers of Aranmula against the proposed private airport project at Aranmula enters 400th day on Monday and senior Congress leader, V.M.Sudheeran, will be inaugurating a public meeting organised by the people’s action council at Aranmula on Monday afternoon, according to Mr P.Induchoodan, Palliyoda Pallivilakku Samrakshana Samiti convner.
Mr Induchoodan said the agitation against the controversial airport project began with the popular protest march to the `Utsav’ programme organised by the Tourism department in Aranmula on December 17, 2012.
The airport project that threatens even the very existence of six Palliyodakkaras (rustic parts) in and around Aranmula would lead to destruction of rusticity of the heritage village, he said.
Mr Induchoodan said the United Nations Development Programme has identified Aranmula as a Heritage and the proposed airport project that necessitates conversion of a vast expanse of the Aranmula puncha (paddy land) and wetland would ultimately lead to drying up of river Pampa, singing the swan’s song to the famous snakeboat regatta, Uthrittathi Vallamkali, and not to speak of its priceless socio-environmental cost.
21/01/13 The Hindu
