It was yet another day of misery for the evictees of Moolampally as the world celebrated Christmas on Sunday. While celebrations progressed elsewhere in the city, the evictees, who lost their holdings for the Vallarpadam International Container Terminal, gathered at Menaka Junction protesting against the delay in implementing the promises made by the government for their rehabilitation.
Representatives of the 316 families that were evicted came together for the agitation demanding steps for fulfilling the promises showered by the government. The Moolampally package should be implemented in its fullest sense. The government failed to provide the basic infrastructure facilities in the land allotted to the evictees, said Francis Kalathunkal, general convener of the coordination committee of the evictees. Of the 316 families that were evicted, only 12 could rebuild their houses. The government has failed to provide the basic infrastructure facilities like road, power and drinking water in the land allotted to the evictees.
Though the government promised to provide Rs. 75,000 each for the families for the foundation work of the houses considering the marshy nature of the land, it has not reached the beneficiaries so far, Mr. Kalathumkal said. Though the world celebrated Christmas on Sunday, the evicted families were not in a position to celebrate it. Hence, the evictees chose the day for airing their grievances. The celebration was limited to the cutting of a cake that was brought to the venue of the agitation, he said. The fourth anniversary of the eviction will fall on February 6.
With 40 days left for the fourth anniversary, the evictees are planning to step up the agitation. K. Aravindakshan inaugurated the agitation.
