Sabari rail survey to start amidst protest

KOTTAYAM: While the land survey for the Sabari rail project is slated to start shortly, the agitation against the Sabari rail alignment at Deepthi junction at Thalappalam panchayath has crossed 1400 days.  The action council has complained that the government was not taking any action to settle the agitation. The Sabari rail project is a 120 kilometre rail project beginning from Angamaly to Erumely that is targeted at Sabarimala pilgrims. More than 300 families of the Bharananaganam, Thalappalam and Meenachil and Kappad panchayaths are affected by the project.

The panchayaths have passed a resolution against the rail project maintaining that the alignment of the new rail path would affect the livelihood of the families belonging to the region. The action council has demanded that the government find an alternate alignment. “If the alignment is not changed, the houses in the region will be demolished. The government should take appropriate action to change the alignment” said Tomy Thengumpallil, chairman of the Deepthi action council. He alleged that certain political leaders of Meenachil Taluk had influenced the route of the rail alignment.

He sought a high level inquiry by the government. Meanwhile, sources from the Deputy Chief Engineers office at Ernakulam said that a satellite survey was conducted almost one year ago.  “All the houses in the region were visible in the satellite survey. However, the survey maintained that very few houses in the Thalappalam area would be lost if the project came into existence. This will be the most appropriate place for implementing the project as there will be minimum displacements” a senior official told DC. The official added that the tender proceedings for the land survey had begun. The land survey would begin within a month, he said.