Protests against the proposal to establish a waste-to-energy plant at Peringamala is set to gain momentum with the local residents planning a five-day protest march in the district from January 26.
The agitation at the agrifarm at Peringamala under the banner of the Peringamala Environment Protection Committee and the Waste Treatment Plant Viruddha Committee had crossed 200 days on Wednesday. According to the action council members, Minister for Local Self Governments A.C. Moideen had not kept his promise that he would visit the region.
Minister’s visit
“It was on December 5 that the Minister announced in the Assembly that he intended to visit Peringamala. He has not come so far,” action council chairman Nizar Mohammed Sulfi said. The march — ‘Unarthu Jaatha’ — will be flagged off from Perumathura on January 26 and conclude at Peringamala on January 30, which marks the 71st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he said.
The march, which raises the slogans ‘Protect the Western Ghats’ and ‘Protect the Vamanapuram river from contamination’, will cover the Chirayinkeezhu, Varkala, and Nedumangad taluks. A meeting is planned at the Palode junction on January 30.
Peringamala is one of seven locations identified by the State government for establishing waste-treatment plants.
But the local people argue that this region is ecologically sensitive and forms part of the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve.
