: Dissatisfied with the State government’s response to the proposed four-lane project, the Mananchira Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee, led by historian M.G.S. Narayanan, is gearing up for another round of agitation after Onam.
The committee has planned a large-scale convention of representatives of about 300 residents’ associations in the city in the first week of September. Efforts are on to rope in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Principal Adviser and State Planning Board member in charge of transportation E. Sreedharan to inaugurate the convention. The next-level of agitation, including an indefinite satyagraha, would be decided at the convention, said M.P. Vasudevan, general secretary of the committee.
He accused the government of not releasing funds to acquire land for widening the 8.4-k.m. stretch of the National Highway 766 passing through the city. A sum of Rs 25 crore had been released so far. Additional amount of Rs 10 crore sanctioned more than a month ago was yet to reach the District Treasury. This amount could be used for acquiring land and improving the junction only at Malaparamba junction, Mr. Vasudevan, said.
Criticising the attitude of the Revenue Department in soft pedalling the project, he demanded that the officials should attach the 2.82 acres of government land that was located in the proposed alignment of the road. The argument that government land would be encroached was illogical and childish.
