The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has called upon the government to desist from allowing any further conversion of paddy fields or wetlands.
In a statement here on Saturday, NAPM leaders Medha Patkar, Gabriele Dietrich, Prafulla Samantara, Sandeep Pandey, Goe Ghosh, Hussein Master, George Jacob, and Madhuresh Kumar said records available with the State Planning Board showed that Kerala had lost over 5 lakh hectares of paddy fields between 1980 and 2007, and had failed to add to land under cultivation.
It said that the wanton conversion of wetlands and paddy fields in the name of development at Aranmula for a private greenfield international airport project should be brought to a halt, and the government should take over illegally converted land for agriculture purposes and cancel the project immediately.
Expressing solidarity with the people protesting against the project, the statement said,
“The NAPM stands firm with the people of Aranmula and supports the struggle against the proposed airport. We also urge that laws like the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Boards and Industrial Township Area Development Act-1999 be repealed since they usurp the constitutionally granted rights of gram sabhas.”
Gram sabhas have the sole right to plan development in their area as per the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution and the Kerala government must respect it, the statement said.
‘Aerotropolis' model
The proposed airport on the ‘Aerotropolis' model is completely unnecessary since the State had enough airports, the statement said. Aerotropolis is a new urban form placing airports in the centre with cities growing around them, connecting workers, suppliers, executives, and goods to the global marketplace.
It said the Chennai-based KGS Group, promoter of the proposed KGS International Greenfield Airport at Aranmula, got clearance after the State Industries Department declared 500 acres of land, spread across the Mallappuzhassery, Aranmula, and Kidangannur villages, as industrial area.
The clearance was granted invoking the provisions in the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Boards and Industrial Township Area Development Act-1999.
In another statement issued here on Sunday, P. Prasad, a close associate of Ms. Patkar, said she, along with various other NAPM leaders, would address a massive rally at Aranmula soon.
In a statement here on Saturday, NAPM leaders Medha Patkar, Gabriele Dietrich, Prafulla Samantara, Sandeep Pandey, Goe Ghosh, Hussein Master, George Jacob, and Madhuresh Kumar said records available with the State Planning Board showed that Kerala had lost over 5 lakh hectares of paddy fields between 1980 and 2007, and had failed to add to land under cultivation.
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| Photo Courtesy : Wikipedia |
Expressing solidarity with the people protesting against the project, the statement said,
“The NAPM stands firm with the people of Aranmula and supports the struggle against the proposed airport. We also urge that laws like the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Boards and Industrial Township Area Development Act-1999 be repealed since they usurp the constitutionally granted rights of gram sabhas.”
Gram sabhas have the sole right to plan development in their area as per the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution and the Kerala government must respect it, the statement said.
‘Aerotropolis' model
The proposed airport on the ‘Aerotropolis' model is completely unnecessary since the State had enough airports, the statement said. Aerotropolis is a new urban form placing airports in the centre with cities growing around them, connecting workers, suppliers, executives, and goods to the global marketplace.
It said the Chennai-based KGS Group, promoter of the proposed KGS International Greenfield Airport at Aranmula, got clearance after the State Industries Department declared 500 acres of land, spread across the Mallappuzhassery, Aranmula, and Kidangannur villages, as industrial area.
The clearance was granted invoking the provisions in the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Boards and Industrial Township Area Development Act-1999.
In another statement issued here on Sunday, P. Prasad, a close associate of Ms. Patkar, said she, along with various other NAPM leaders, would address a massive rally at Aranmula soon.
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