The protest against the Kerala government's ambitious semi high speed rail corridor project SilverLine continued on Saturday as people confronted officials who tried to install the survey poles in their properties ahead of the land acquisition.
Tirur in Malappuram witnessed high drama as local people protested the move to install the survey poles in Vengaloor village. A woman uprooted the survey pole installed on her property. Large posse of police personnel, including woman cops, are accompanying officials in the wake of the protests witnessed in other parts of the state.
In Ernakulam district, the opposition Congress party continues its protest against the project. Congress activists uprooted a survey pole installed the other day and threw it into a nearby canal. District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas and Piravom MLA Anoop Jacob led the protest.
Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan on Saturday reiterated that the Congress-led United Democratic Front will support the people's protest. "The UDF will go ahead with its protest, uprooting survey poles. Women and children are at the forefront of the protests. Their spirit of agitation is stunning," the Congress leader said.
Kerala has been witnessing a series of protests against the K-Rail SilverLine project recently as the government initiated the survey procedures ahead of land acquisition. Though the government has announced a detailed compensation package for those who would have to surrender their property for the project, a large section of the people seem to be not convinced. They fear that they will lose their property and will not be able to sell or pledge them for bank loans once they are demarcated for the project.
The opposition UDF has been questioning the mega project for the environmental issues as well as the economic burden it is likely to cause.
Will implement project with people's support: CM
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, meanwhile, reiterated his government's firm stance on implementing the project. "The protests are against the state's development. Congress is blocking the progress of the state. BJP is also taking a similar stance. People understand this," he said, inaugurating the state conference of the Kerala School Teachers' Association in Kollam on Saturday.
