The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) has demanded a thorough review and amendment of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, Coastal Regulation Zone norms, quarry rules and other laws that govern the use of natural resources in the aftermath of the recent floods.
A set of recommendations that has been submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan highlights the need to tighten laws to prevent the wanton exploitation of natural resources.
The organisation has also called for enacting a law to regulate the mining sector. A green law commission could be constituted for the purposes, the KSSP proposed.
Addressing media persons here on Monday, KSSP president T. Gangadharan said that efforts to build a ‘new Kerala’ must be based on the principles of sustainability, equality, participation, democracy, transparency and social justice.
The State must formulate a comprehensive master plan and create separate sub-plans for the highlands, midlands and coastal areas.
Noted social activist and former president of KSSP R.V.G. Menon pointed out that the natural disaster had proven that most parts of the State and not just the reserved forests along the Western Ghats were ecologically fragile.
Besides, developmental activities that had been undertaken with scant regard for ecology had evidently worsened the extent of the disaster. The State must strive to reduce ecological footprint while undertaking developmental activities.
Land bank
The KSSP, which has floated immediate and long-term measures to rebuild the State, had called for the creation of a land bank to regulate the transfer of land and rein in unhealthy practices that had reduced land as a commodity.
Any future development must be undertaken only after through zonation by designating the ecologically-fragile areas as ‘no development zones’.
Proposing a full-fledged mechanism for river monitoring, the KSSP had demanded enacting a law to create River Regulation Zone norms, similar to the ones laid down for the regulation of coastal areas.
The KSSP had also called for the adoption of information technology to ensure transparency in the related activities. Any reforms that would be implemented in the future must also involve the active participation of women and the youth.
Rallies from Oct
In a bid to foster discussions on the topic, the KSSP would organise several rallies and seminars across the State from October onwards.
Vehicle rallies, led by scientists, would also be taken out to sensitise the public. A ‘vikasana sabha’ would be organised in the State capital in December as culmination to the State-wide campaign. KSSP general secretary T.K. Meera Bai, former presidents N.K. Sasidharan Pillai and Kavumbai Balakrishnan were also present at the press conference.
