A coordination committee of independent farmer organisations is gearing up to launch an indefinite agitation, protesting against the alleged apathy of successive governments in realising the proposed alternative roads to the Wayanad Ghat Road.
A few years ago, a meeting of people’s representatives, leaders of various political parties and the Wayanad district administration had submitted a detailed proposal for five alternative roads, including Poozhithode-Padinharethara Road; Meppadi-Nilambur Road; Kunkichira-Vilangad-Kunhome Road; Chipplithode-Maruthilavu-Thalipuzha Road and Meppadi-Kalladi-Anakkampoyil Road, and the renovation of the Ghat Road to the government to decongest the Wayanad Ghat Road section connecting Kozhikode with Kollegal in Karnataka, said P.M. Joy the chairman of the coordination committee.
The Public Works Department (PWD) had called for tenders to carry out a survey for the proposed Chippilithodu-Maruthilavu-Thalipuzha Road linking Kozhikode and Wayanad districts and the State government had earmarked ₹20 core for constructing a tunnel to connect Anikkampoil in Kozhikode and Kalladi in Wayanad. But, the proposed projects were yet to be realised owing to a dearth of follow-up measures, added Mr. Joy.
‘No positive steps’
The government and people’s representatives would voice the need for the construction of alternative roads only when traffic was disrupted on the ghat section of the road following landslips during the monsoon, but they failed to adopt positive steps to realise the proposals, he said.
The committee representing the Karshaka Purogamana Samiti, Haritha Sena, All India Farmers’ Association, Farmers’ Relief Forum, INFARM, Karshaka Samrakshana Samithi and Wayanad Chetty Service Society will stage a protest meet at Lakkidi in the district at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.
If the government continued to take no action, the agitations would be intensified, said Mr. Joy.
