The anti-STP protest committee at Avikkal Thodu in Vellayil ward of the Kozhikode Corporation launched a day-night strike at the proposed site of the sewage treatment plant (STP) on Monday. Trade union leader Grow Vasu inaugurated the protest demanding that the Kozhikode Corporation back out of the plan to construct the STP at Avikkal Thodu.
The protest against the STP has been going on for more than a month and almost every political, religious and social outfit in the Vellayil region have offered their support to the protest. Local people allege that the place identified was not suitable for the STP as it was a thickly populated area and also that the project will block the flow of the Avikkal canal. They also oppose the plan to dispose of the treated water into the Vellayil harbour saying that the water may eventually pollute the water in the harbour.
Several attempts made by the Kozhikode Corporation to convince the local people about the necessity of the STP and that it was environment friendly, fell flat. The United Democratic Front councillors in the corporation council refused to take part in a trip organised by the corporation to inspect the working of a similar STP in Thiruvananthapuram recently, to clear the doubts regarding the project.
Several activists such as INTUC leader Rajeevan, Harshan Kamburam of Janata Dal, opposition leader at the corporation council K.C. Shobhita and deputy leader K. Moideen Koya besides councillor of Vellayil ward Soufiya Aneesh took part in the protest on Monday.
Vadakara MLA K.K.Rema will inaugurate the valedictory event of the protest on Tuesday.
