Local residents are up in arms against a proposal of the Indian Coast Guard to fence its land near Kattuvayal Colony at Ashokapuram here on the premise that they would be deprived of a playground.
The Coast Guard proposed to construct a staff quarters on the 1.06-acre land it had bought from the Calicut Development Authority (CDA) at Rs.10 crore a few years ago.
Last week, the Coast Guard officials, accompanied by the police, attempted to fence the land before commencing construction work.
However, they had had to beat a retreat following opposition from neighbourhood groups.
The protesters, under the banner of the of the Nadakkavu CDA Ground Protection Committee, will step up their agitation by forming a human chain from Nadakkavu Junction to English Church on Sunday, said K.P. Vijayakumar, chairman of the committee.
He said the residents had been holding football tournaments, cultural programmes, and social gatherings at the grounds.
The CDA had acquired around 2.5 acres of land at Ashokapuram in the seventies. Of this, 1.5 acre was sold to the Coast Guard for the construction of residential quarters.
The State government later decided to hand over the remaining portion of land to the Coast Guard in 2007. The land deal was completed two years ago even though the government disbanded the CDA and the property attached to the Kozhikode Corporation.
The Play Ground Samrakshana Samiti has petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy seeking their intervention to retain the playground.
“It is our earnest request that the Indian Coast Guard should preserve this area as a playground that can be used by the Coast Guard and the public,” it said.
The Principal Secretary has directed the District Collector to look into the issue. The residents also met the Chief Minister on Saturday. A complaint was also pending before the Sub Divisional Magistrate Court. Mr. Vijayakumar said.
