Medha Patkar hits out at Left govt

Kochi: Social activist Medha Patkar on Sunday hit out against the ambitious KRail project of the Left-front government saying it would destroy the agricultural lands and wetlands of the state.

Speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ at Ernakulam Press Club, Patkar asked the state government to ensure compensation for the endosulfan victims and their families before considering megaprojects like K-Rail.

“Justice should not be delayed for endosulfan victims and their families who have been suffering for more than three decades. More than half of the over 6,700 victims have not been compensated in any manner until now,” Patkar said, adding that no development project should be considered without ensuring the rehabilitation of the affected.

The activist said she could not understand why the government was taking such issues lightly, which needed to be decided as soon as possible.

She said a proper study was required while considering new development projects in post-floods Kerala or else it will lead to serious environmental problems.

“If the K-Rail project is implemented without a proper study, it will destroy the agriculture and wetlands of the state. Projects which are planned without taking into consideration the effect on agriculture and the farmers of the state cannot be termed as development,” Patkar said.

She asked how a government that plans megaprojects like K-Rail had ‘forgot’ about the rights of the endosulfan victims.

The state government’s plan is to connect the 540 kilometre stretch from Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north by semi-high speed rail under the SilverLine project, also known as K-Rail, which is expected to reduce the travel time between the two ends of the state to around four hours.

However, it’s met with widespread protest from opposition parties and environmentalists. -(PTI)