Kochi: Environmentalists have come out against the recent high level meetings organised by the state government in what is seen as an attempt to wriggle out of the legal issues related to the controversial Rs 2000 crore Aranmula airport.
There is a widespread allegation that these meetings are merely a cover to sabotage existing laws to suit the proposed project. When contacted by the Express, prominent ‘green’ MLA from Congress, V D Satheeshan said a bureaucratic level meeting will not solve the illegalities associated with the airport. He affirmed that any move to set up the airport will be resisted.
“The authorities thought they could escape public protest against the airport if they give all the required permissions now, as the media is busy with ‘Saritha-Solar-Shaalu’ scandals”, said Sugathakumari, poet and chairperson of the Joint Action Council against the airport. She said that she had come to know through newspapers that district collector Pranab Jyotinath had convened a meeting of revenue officials on Friday afternoon to discuss the government-level sanctions needed and legal issues involved in the proposed airport. Protests arose when it came to light that the meeting was also attended by officials of the private company which plans to set up the airport.
07/07/13 Nidheesh MK/New Indian Express
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There is a widespread allegation that these meetings are merely a cover to sabotage existing laws to suit the proposed project. When contacted by the Express, prominent ‘green’ MLA from Congress, V D Satheeshan said a bureaucratic level meeting will not solve the illegalities associated with the airport. He affirmed that any move to set up the airport will be resisted.
“The authorities thought they could escape public protest against the airport if they give all the required permissions now, as the media is busy with ‘Saritha-Solar-Shaalu’ scandals”, said Sugathakumari, poet and chairperson of the Joint Action Council against the airport. She said that she had come to know through newspapers that district collector Pranab Jyotinath had convened a meeting of revenue officials on Friday afternoon to discuss the government-level sanctions needed and legal issues involved in the proposed airport. Protests arose when it came to light that the meeting was also attended by officials of the private company which plans to set up the airport.
07/07/13 Nidheesh MK/New Indian Express
