Vayalkilikal long march in September

KANNUR: The ‘Vayalkilikal’ will take out a long march to Thiruvananthapuram in September to address the environmental issues in the state.  The samiti supporting  ‘Vayalkilikal,’ the farmers’ group fighting to save the paddy fields at Keezhattoor, took the decision at a convention here on Saturday. “The convention  identified that close to 400 protest points have be set up for the march which will cover the whole state. District-level coordination will  needed for the march, which will  address all environmental issues, not just of Keezhattoor alone,” said Mr Suresh Keezhattoor of ‘Vayalkilikal.’ 

The march titled  ‘Samara Keralam Thiruvananthapurathek’ will be attended by  all likeminded green groups.   A protest meet will be held  in  Thrissur on August 11 where the details would be announced.  Nambrath Janaki,  woman leader of ‘Vayalkilikal,’  inaugurated the convention.  “This protest is for food and water. There is no politics in it and all people should join hands to protect our water and agriculture,” she said.

Samiti member   Dr Surendranath said, “the march will highlight the  protection of wetlands and water bodies in  the state. Keezhattoor stir will link all the ecological protests in Kerala and the state should speak to the protesting people,” he said. The green collective is also waiting for the report of a central environment team which assessed the ecological impact of undertaking the  bypass project at  Keezhattoor.