Various local action committees protesting against the final alignment of the proposed National Highway (NH) Kannur bypass here are planning to intensify their agitation demanding that authorities stick to the earlier alignment which, they allege, has been changed because of the intervention of influential people.
The action committees at Thuruthi, Kottakkunnu, Velapuram and Kallukettichira have decided to join hands to form a new action committee named Chungal-Chala bypass joint action committee to intensify the agitation against the final alignment. The action committees have been alleging that the earlier alignment has been modified under the influence of vested interests.
Suhail K.K., an action committee activist, said the new alignment of the NH 66 bypass was against the norms of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The joint action committee alleged that the previous alignment had been finalised in 2012 and the 3A notification was issued. However, in 2016 the alignment had been changed by issuing a fresh 3A notification and the final 3D notification, throwing all the norms of the NHAI to the wind. The final alignment required demolition of more houses compared to the old alignment, they said adding the final alignment had more curve. The action committee said the reclamation of land and the construction of an embankment for the bypass would obstruct the natural water flow that would endanger the environment. In the wake of the recent floods in the State, the authorities should revoke the final alignment and select the previous one which, they said, was more environment-friendly. The committee would launch an agitation in front of the Collectorate from September 10 to 13 to demand finalisation of the previous alignment.
