Anti-SilverLine resolution passed in LDF-ruled grama panchayat in Kasaragod

The LDF government's proposed SilverLine semi high-speed rail project has met with opposition from the northernmost district in Kerala and that too from a panchayat ruled by CPM.

The Uduma Grama Panchayat in Kasaragod has passed a resolution against the 530km-long project that claims to reduce rail travel duration considerably.

Protests against the project are nothing new as besides environmentalists who have flagged the potential damages to waterways and paddy fields, locals had also obstructed the laying of survey stones in various places.

However, it is arguably the first time that a local body governed by the front that rules the state has taken a stand against the project.

In Uduma, the Congress and BJP had joined hands to pass the resolution. IUML's Haris Angakalari had moved the resolution that found the backing of all members of the opposition, including nine UDF and two BJP members. There are 21 members in the panchayat with CPM holding ten seats.

The Congress and BJP have said that their tie-up was not on political grounds, but rather driven by the importance of the matter. SilverLine is expected to run through seven wards in the panchayat where at least a hundred families are faced with the threat of eviction.

Panchayat President P Lakshmi of CPM has claimed the resolution was anti-development and that it will not raise any obstacles in the path of the project. "Just because our panchayat passed a resolution nothing is going to happen to the project, maybe it has given a good feeling to the opposition," said P Lakshmi.

LDF-ruled Velookkara gram panchayat in Thrissur district had passed a resolution against K-Rail in December, 2021. Here too, opposition parties Congress (7 seats) and BJP (2 seats) joined hands to pip LDF, which has eight seats, by one vote.