Restoration of stream begins at Aranmula

Karimaramthodu converted to set up airport 10 years ago

: For the first time in its history, Kerala is witnessing the restoration of an illegally converted natural stream as well as a hill that had been razed

A sizeable portion of the natural stream, Karimaramthodu, cutting across the Aranmula Puncha (paddy fields) had been converted by a private party to set up an airport there 10 years ago. The land owned by Abraham Kalamannil of the Mount Zion Trust was sold to the Chennai-based KGS company for setting up an international airport later..

However, the controversy over the proposed private greenfield airport hotted up following strong public protests against the airport project which required conversion of the biodiversity-rich wetland and paddy land in Aranmula.

The National Green Tribunal had set aside the environment clearance granted for the project by the Ministry of Environment and Forests a year ago, followed by the cancellation of clearances by the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defence.

Mohanan, a native of Aranmula, moved the Kerala High Court seeking restoration of the natural stream. Disposing of the writ petition filed by Mr. Mohanan on June 16, 2014, the High Court had directed the District Collector to restore Karimaramthodu in a time-bound manner.

The restoration of Karimaramthodu began on Monday following an agreement reached between District Collector S. Harikishore and Mr. Kalamannil on the basis of the law that the restoration should be carried out by those who had violated the law. The removal of earth began from the site which was previously identified for the airport runway.

Restoration of hill

The earth removed is being dumped in the adjoining land that housed a hill which was razed for the illegal stream conversion, in effect, restoring the hill too.

Talking to reporters, the Collector said it would take six months to complete the stream restoration work.

Mr. Kalamannil said he would go ahead with his dream project of a small airstrip in Aranmula. He said the project would be implemented after taking the villagers into confidence.

P.Induchoodan, P.R.Shaji, Shaji Chacko, S. Suresh, action council leaders; R.Sreeranganathan who had moved the NGT against the airport project, and Mr. Mohanan were also present.