An action committee of people comprising
environmentalists and social activists staged a satyagraha in front of the
Collectorate here on Saturday, appealing to the State government to take steps
for the permanent closure of a ship-breaking unit functioning under the control
of the Steel Industries Kerala Ltd. (SILK) at Beypore here.
The protesters alleged that the business was
beneficial only to an affluent minority and that it should be stopped
permanently, taking into account of the serious environmental pollution and
health hazards being faced by hundreds of residents in the coastal area.
The action committee staged the protest claiming
that the management of SILK was trying to use influence to secure clearance
from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) for the permanent operation
of the unit.
They also said that the PCB had earlier issued a
stop memo to SILK after conducting a field study at the site and finding out
the unscientific steps taken to break the ships.
M.K. Manoharan, chairman of the action committee,
said the unhealthy business could never be promoted at a prestigious government
enterprise like SILK on the Kozhikode coastline.
“The citizens here are well aware that the ship
dismantling unit poses a serious health hazard and cause severe environmental
pollution, gradually resulting in chronic diseases,” he said.
Mr. Manoharan also maintained that the Satyagraha
was a token protest and the people in the region would be compelled to take up
indefinite agitation if the government was acting in favour of the unit.
“We will also mobilise the support of all social
and environmental organisations to campaign against the venture,” he said.
Social activists D. Surendranath, Civic Chandran,
and leaders of various social and environmental organisations took part in the
protest.
Source: the hindu. 30 November 2014
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