Eco-activists take pledge to protect Mangalavanam

The Hindu , Sunday, January 30, 2005
Correspondent : Staff Reporter
KOCHI, JAN. 29. Environmentalists today pledged to protect the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary against encroachments including the proposed construction of a parking bay at its buffer zone for the new High Court building.

The activists, who assembled near the new High Court building, marched towards the entrance of the bird sanctuary raising slogans for protecting the area. U.K. Gopalan, eco-activist, administered the pledge.

Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the need for protecting Mangalavanam, the lung of the city.

Salim Ali's visit

He also recalled the visit of the late ornithologist Salim Ali to the area in 1976.

Salim Ali had been astonished at the assemblage of a large number of birds including the migratory species, he said. In his address, John Peruvanthanam said that the proposed parking bay near the buffer zone would adversely affect the bird sanctuary. Any move to construct a parking lot at the area would be in violation of various laws meant for conserving sanctuaries, he said.

The widespread protest against the proposed parking lot symbolises the growing concern of common man for protecting water sources, fresh air and the right to live.

If the authorities do not desist from the move, they will have to face public protests, he said.He also protested against the proposed move to set up cottages and townships at the Sabarimala forest area coming under the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Environmentalists C.M. Joy, Sivan Madathil and Rajendraprasad were also present.

The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Ernakulam district committee, has started a campaign against the move to construct the parking lot.

The High Court should give up the move to set up parking lot at the area. Instead, it should explore the possibility of setting up the parking bay at alternative sites, said a joint statement issued by E. K. Prakasan, the district president and P.A. Thankachan, district secretary of the organisation.

The court should consider the proposal for shifting the offices of the police department, which are functioning at the High Court junction to the old High Court building when the court moves to the new building.

A multi-storied parking facility can be constructed at the site of the police office, which would ease the pressure on city roads, the statement said.

The increased air pollution from motor vehicles, water pollution by motorboats plying in the Kochi backwaters and also sound pollution are posing a serious threat to the area, which was once famous for large tracts of mangrove forests, they said.

Earlier, the area had housed over 20,000 birds. Nowadays, nearly 200 species are visiting the sanctuary, they said.

Black day

The environmentalists have decided to observe black day on the day of inauguration the new High Court building. A convention will also be held on February 12 at Ernakulam for charting out the future course of agitation.

 
SOURCE : The Hindu,Sunday,January 30, 2005
 


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