Thursday, May 30, 2013

റവന്യു മന്ത്രിയുടെ നീക്കം ഭൂപ്രഭുക്കന്മാര്‍ക്കു വേണ്ടി: കുമ്മനം


തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവള കമ്പനിയെ ഭൂപരിധി നിയമത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്‌ ഒഴിവാക്കുമെന്ന റവന്യു മന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം ഭൂരഹിത ദരിദ്ര ജനവിഭാഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കേറ്റ കനത്ത പ്രഹരമാണെന്ന്‌ ആറന്മുള പൈതൃക ഗ്രാമകര്‍മ്മ സമിതി രക്ഷാധികാരി കുമ്മനംരാജശേഖരന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. ഭൂരഹിതരല്ല, ഭൂപ്രഭുക്കന്മാരാണ്‌ ഈ സര്‍ക്കാരിന്‌ വലുതെന്ന്‌ മന്ത്രി സംശയാതീതമായി തെളിയിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞു. ആറന്മുളയില്‍ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനു വേണ്ടി വാങ്ങിയ 232 ഏക്കര്‍ നിമയപ്രകാരം മിച്ചഭൂമിയായി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ തന്നെ നിയമത്തിന്റെ പരിധിയില്‍ നിന്നും ഭൂഉടമയെ ഒഴിവാക്കുമെന്ന്‌ പറയുന്നത്‌ വിരോധാഭാസമാണ്‌.

ലാന്‍ഡ്‌ ബോര്‍ഡിന്റെ മിച്ചഭൂമി ഉത്തരവിനെ ചോദ്യം ചെയ്തുകൊണ്ട്‌ വിമാനത്താവള കമ്പനി സര്‍ക്കാരിനെതിരെ ഹൈക്കോടതിയില്‍ കേസ്‌ ഫയല്‍ ചെയ്ത്‌ സ്റ്റേ വാങ്ങിയിരിക്കെ, കമ്പനിക്കുവേണ്ടി നിയമം ഇളവ്‌ ചെയ്യുമെന്ന്‌ മന്ത്രി പറയാന്‍ പാടില്ലായിരുന്നു. കോടതിയലക്ഷ്യക്കുറ്റമാണ്‌ മന്ത്രി നടത്തിയിട്ടുള്ളത്‌. ഹൈക്കോടതിയില്‍ പ്രതിസ്ഥാനത്തു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ എതിര്‍ കക്ഷിക്കുവേണ്ടി കോടതിക്കു പുറത്തു വാദിക്കുന്നത്‌ കോടതിയോടുള്ള അവഹേളനവും നിയമവാഴ്ചയോടുള്ള വെല്ലുവിളിയുമാണെന്ന്‌ കുമ്മനം വാര്‍ത്താസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

പൊതുതാല്‍പര്യത്തിനുവേണ്ടി മാത്രമേ ഭൂപരിധിനിയമത്തില്‍ ഇളവ്‌ അനുവദിക്കാവൂ എന്നാണ്‌ വ്യവസ്ഥ. പൊതുതാല്‍പര്യമെന്തെന്ന്‌ അറിയാനുള്ള അവസരം സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ ഒരുക്കണം. പൊതുജനങ്ങളുടെ അഭിപ്രായം കേട്ട ശേഷം മാത്രമേ സര്‍ക്കാരിന്‌ തീരുമാനമെടുക്കാന്‍ കഴിയൂ. അതിനു മുമ്പ്‌ മന്ത്രിസഭ കൂടി ഏകപക്ഷീയമായി ഇളവ്‌ അനുവദിക്കുന്നത്‌ നിയമവിരുദ്ധവും ഭരണ യന്ത്രത്തെ ദുരുപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തലുമാണ്‌.

ഈ നീക്കത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്‌ പിന്തിരിയണമെന്ന്‌ റവന്യു സെക്രട്ടറിക്ക്‌ നല്‍കിയ നിവേദനത്തില്‍ കര്‍മ്മസമിതി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. ആറന്മുളക്കാര്‍ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്‌ അനുകൂലമാണെന്ന റവന്യു മന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രസ്താവന പച്ചക്കള്ളമാണ്‌. വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനെതിരെ ഏതാണ്ട്‌ ആയിരത്തോളം കുടുംബങ്ങള്‍ ഒപ്പിട്ട ഹര്‍ജി ഒന്നരവര്‍ഷം മുമ്പ്‌ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്ക്‌ സമര്‍പ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്‌. നിയമസഭാ കമ്മിറ്റിയും വിവിധ പാര്‍ളമെന്ററി കമ്മിറ്റികളും വിമാനത്താവളം ഉണ്ടാക്കുന്ന പ്രത്യാഘാതങ്ങള്‍ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടുകയുണ്ടായി. നിലവിലുള്ള നിയമങ്ങള്‍ക്കനുസരിച്ചു മാത്രം വിമാനത്താവളം നിര്‍മ്മിക്കാനാണ്‌ എല്‍ഡിഎഫ്‌ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ അനുമതി നല്‍കിയത്‌. പാരിസ്ഥിതിക നിയമങ്ങളും ഭൂനിയമങ്ങളും ലംഘിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്‌ മുന്നോട്ടുപോകാനാണ്‌ ഈ സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ ശ്രമം. ലാന്‍ഡ്‌ ബോര്‍ഡ്‌ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച ആറന്മുള മിച്ചഭൂമിയിലെ ഓരോ ഇഞ്ചും ഭൂരഹിതരായ പട്ടികവര്‍ഗ്ഗക്കാര്‍ക്കും പട്ടികജാതിക്കാര്‍ക്കും മറ്റ്‌ ദരിദ്രജനവിഭാഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കും അവകാശപ്പെട്ടതാണ്‌. അത്‌ അവരുടെ ജന്മാവകാശമാണ്‌. പത്തുലക്ഷം വരുന്ന ഭൂരഹിതരായ ദളിത്‌ ആദിവാസി ജനവിഭാഗത്തിന്‌ നാളിതുവരെ ഭൂമി ലഭിക്കാതെ കഷ്ടനഷ്ടങ്ങള്‍ സഹിച്ച്‌ ദുരിതമനുഭവിക്കുമ്പോള്‍, മിച്ച ഭൂമി വന്‍കിട കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റുകള്‍ക്ക്‌ പതിച്ചു നല്‍കുമെന്ന മന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം അംഗീകരിക്കാനാവില്ല.

ആറന്മുളയിലെ സമരം വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനെതിരായി മാത്രമുള്ളതല്ല, നെല്‍വയല്‍ സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനും ഭൂരഹിതര്‍ക്ക്‌ മിച്ചഭൂമി നേടുന്നതിനും വേണ്ടിയുള്ള ജനകീയ മുന്നേറ്റം കൂടിയാണ്‌. കുടിവെള്ള ക്ഷാമം മൂലം ജനം കഷ്ടപ്പെടുമ്പോള്‍ നീര്‍ത്തടങ്ങള്‍ നികത്തുന്നതും ഭൂരഹിത ദരിദ്ര ജനവിഭാഗങ്ങള്‍ ഭൂമിക്കുവേണ്ടി പോരാട്ടങ്ങള്‍ നടത്തുമ്പോള്‍ മിച്ചഭൂമി കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ്‌ കമ്പനികള്‍ക്ക്‌ പതിച്ചു നല്‍കുന്നതും ജനദ്രോഹകുറ്റങ്ങളാണ്‌. ഇതിനെതിരെ ആറന്മുള കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ച്‌ ജനകീയ പ്രക്ഷോഭങ്ങള്‍ പുനരാരംഭിക്കും.

പത്രസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ ബ്രഹ്മചാരി ഭാര്‍ഗ്ഗവറാം, പ്രവീണ്‍ചന്ദ്രന്‍, ഹരികുമാര്‍ എന്നിവരും സംബന്ധിച്ചു.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Adoor Prakash on Aranmula Airport, A Rejoinder

Cabinet will take decision on Aranmula airport project: Adoor Prakash

The Cabinet would consider the issue of the proposed KGS Aranmula International Airport in Pathanamthitta and take a decision on necessary steps to facilitate its implementation, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said here on Monday.
Responding to a question at a press conference here, the Minister said all the allegedly controversial decisions pertaining to the proposed project were taken during the tenure of the previous government controlled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
He said he could not understand why the then Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan should now take a stand contradicting what his government had done.

TRANSFER OF OFFICIALS

When asked about the transfer from Pathanamthitta district of the Revenue officials who had raised legal objections against the land transaction involved in this private project, Mr. Prakash said transfers were part of government service.
“Pathanamthitta being my home district, I am personally interested in seeing that this project becomes a reality, because it can contribute to the development of the region. The United Democratic Front (UDF) government supports the idea of this airport,” he said.
Mr. Prakash alleged that the people who opposed the project were not the people of Aranmula, but those from outside.
And a Rejoinder
  1. Adoor Prakash should realize that his selfish political ambitions in the present communally polarized Kerala government may, given the tilt in political winds blowing, would endanger his political life itself. He, given his background, is disowning his own people and his own heritage. 
  2. If the time line of the Aranmula Airport is looked back, in retrospect, there is no doubt that it was a land mafia that started the sequence. Once they were in trouble with local people and law enforcement agencies they pulled up the Airport Plan, succeeded in circumventing the crimes and taking the debate to another level, but the cases persisted, more, the local people don't forget
  3. It is the same cases of serious violations, which are of crucial survival value with regard to water balance, heritage, communal balance, that the officers were taking action on, but were punished by the government, which sends wrong signals which shall not go unpunished 
  4. Putting all the fault at the doors of former LDF government, as Oommen Chandy with his obvious ulterior motives keeps doing,  cannot stand scrutiny as the LDF leaders have time and again clarified
  5. One, the Airport Project was not yet known as to this scale at the time, it was a of a minor scale, two, the industrial area notification etc were the handiwork of a secretary without cabinet approval, what thus remains illegal even now
  6. Political compulsions as the Kerala Congress , major force in Kerala behind land mafias, here Josep group, was part of the LDF then is true, but later the scene changed has to be viewed
  7. Whatever the agenda of the mafia so long as the people of Aranmula, Kerala as a whole, oppose it, it cannot be made and misadventures shall see very serious consequences.


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Anti-Aranmula Airport Council (AAAC) Meetings on June 5, Environment Day

Protest against proposed Aranmula Aiport would be intensified.

No officer with integrity will act against the existing norms as he does

not want to get tangled in legal matters, even after retirement,” said
Kummanam Rajasekharan.


The agitation against the proposed Aranmula Aiport is all set to spread wings out of the region. The Anti-Aranmula Airport Agitation Council(AAAC) will convene meetings at all the five Assembly constituencies in the district on June 5, the World Environment Day, to spread awareness about the environmental hazards caused by the project.


The council alleged that the State Government is trying to safeguard the interests of the promoters of the project by transferring honest officials who acted as per the prevailing law of the land.


The allegation gains significance as three top revenue officials - T O Sooraj, A Abdul Samad and V N Jithendran - who took an anti-airport stand were removed from their respective posts in less than a month’s time. “The company wants exemption of many rules as most of them are against the project. The government, which is acting at the behest of the company, wants obedient officers at the pivotal seats to dance according to its tune.


No officer with integrity will act against the existing norms as he does not want to get tangled in legal matters, even after retirement,” said Kummanam Rajasekharan, one of the convenors of AAAC, of which poet writer Sugathakumari is the chairperson.


Jithendran, who had cancelled the mutation of the project area and went forward with procedures for declaring the excess land when he was the Pathanamthitta District Collector, was issued transfer order on April 11. However, he continued in the post for two more weeks and was relieved on April 29.


Abdul Samad, who took the follow-up action, had prepared reports regarding the excess land holding as the Kozhencherry Deputy Collector, but was transferred on May 20.


The Taluk Land Board of Kozhencherry had declared 132 hectares of land, originally owned by K J Abraham of Kozhencherry, as excess land and directed the Revenue officials concerned to take possession of the excess land, invoking the relevant provisions in the Kerala Land Reforms Act.


The decision of the Taluk Land Board came on the basis of an order of the State Land Board (Order No LB(B8)4257/08, dated July 3, 2012, for initiating suo motu proceedings to take over the excess land at Aranmula.


Sooraj, who issued orders which state 132 acres of the Airport project as excess land, was removed from the  post of Land Revenue commissioner on May 22.


“All the three officials were removed from their seats for their strong stand against the illegal activities of the Airport company. Abdul Samad had received the award for the best deputy collector just two weeks ago.


An impeccable officer from neighbouring Kollam district, he was transferred to Wayanad when he has only two more years in service,” said P Prasad, CPI district Secretary.

26/05/2013 20:02:47  http://newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Aranmula-Airport-project-AAAC-plans-to-launch-agitation-in-five-constituencies/2013/05/25/article1605087.ece

Monday, May 20, 2013

Transfers and Kerala Congress Justice

The Chairman of the Taluk Land Board, Kozhencherry, A Abdul Samad, who ordered the takeover of surplus land that was held by Abraham Kalamannil, a Kerala Congress leader who had the audacity to capture a large area of wetlands, fill it and a river, forge documents to capture land of the poor and dalits, in Aranmula, has been transferred. To Wynad as reports tell, another upright officer grilled as inside reports say. The message that comes is not very healthy. This comes just after another no nonsense officer was transferred, this too was for similar backgrounds. V N Jithendran, former District Collector, Pathanamthitta who too was asked to leave. This after he took decisions as per law, not bending to the whims of Kerala Congress. This is just another, the latest, and known, case within the state beurocracy. When this man Abraham Kalamannil filled a river pulling down a hill the local people had complained and this eco-criminal, leader of the Christian communal Party Kerala Congress (Joseph) of the then ruling LDF, had persecuted the complainants coming to the local police station and taking over charge there. This has to be viewed in the larger frame of the state, where the government itself is prone to Communal bias. That despite a large number of laws being violated this man is not yet punished is a pointer to the law abiding citizens. Law abiding citizens, that from all communities, are genuinely alarmed and all arms of law are being manipulated as can be seen. Own people planted by Communal lobbies at key positions do the bidding, where democratic values are all dumped.  

Those officers entrusted with law enforcement if treated as such the message that goes through is very clear, that the rule of law is subject to the whims and fancies of a communal party and its unethical leaders. Where the state machinery is rendered redundant and that is when, as history in India and abroad tells, people take law in to their hands. Such low level violence exploding is known recently in Gujarat and it may happen in Kerala. Pathanamthitta is just getting ripe for the spill over. Those aware of the implications are trying to avoid a break down which can be fatal to the social fabric of the district where social unrest is simmering. Given a spark it may get ignited anytime. As a philosopher said it is always the fools who trigger social violence, and end up the victims ultimately. For Kerala Congress in Pathanamthitta, once a crowd of marginal people and now arrogating to be the state itself, thanks to the support of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and the Christian – Muslim communal coalition that runs the state, the messages are not all positive. Kerala perhaps is heading for its worst phase in history is all that can be said. That Kerala land is almost taken over by mafias, tribal belts and forests being the worst sufferers is no secret. People across the state are waiting with anguish. In Aranmula they used the gimmick of an airport to legitimize a serious land grab case, when that was thwarted by local people, this cannot be seen in isolation. And unfortunately the church and the political parties they promoted are party to all the land grabbing crimes. Conscientious people of the state are indeed worried.                  

Saturday, May 11, 2013

HC stays Land Board order on Aranmula



By Express News Service - KOCHI 11th May 2013 07:53 AM


The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed the order of Kozhenchery Taluk Land Board which declared 132 hectares of land, including 232 acres as part of the proposed Aranmula airport project, as excess land.


The order also directed the Revenue officials concerned to take possession of the excess land, invoking the relevant provisions in the Kerala Land Reforms Act.
The 132 hectares of excess land include 232 acres in Aranmula, Kidangannur and Mallappuzhasserry villages that had been sold for the construction of a private airport.
Justice Babu Mathew P Joseph issued the directive while considering a petition filed by Abraham of Kozhenchery seeking to quash the order of the land board.
According to the petitioner, the move of the land board authorities was illegal as the land was owned by two charitable societies.
The land was under the ownership of Abraham Kalamannil of the Mount Zion Group, who later sold it to the airport’s proprietors, the KGS Group.
Of the 340 acres, the rest of the land is in the nearby Kidangannur, Mezhuveli and Mallappuzhassery areas.
The declaration of excess land was made on the basis of the Kerala Land Reforms Act of 1961, which pegged land holding limit at 15 acres.
Abraham failed to get the revenue authorities’ permission, mandatory for keeping excess land.
Another piece of land bought by the KGS Group for the project, a 43-acre expanse, is also lying unused as this would soon be declared excess, sources said.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Oommen Chandy Again, News


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/331266/kerala-go-ahead-aranmula-airport.html

Kerala to go ahead with Aranmula airport project

Thiruvananthapuram, May 8, 2013, PTI:

Kerala government on Wednesday said it would go ahead with the Aranmula Airport project promoted by Chennai-based KGS Group, notwithstanding the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s opposition to it.
“Permission for the airport was accorded by the previous LDF government and the government is of the view that the airport is necessary,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
“There is no change in the stand of the government, which has a 10 per cent stake in the project,” Chandy added.
The chief Minister was reacting to the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee led by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury to shelve the airport project.
The committee had held that laws were violated while giving permission for the airport.
The panel, in its report, said that permission was granted for the airport after overlooking the rule that two airports within 150 kilometres are not accepted.

The airport is constructed by the KGS Group in Pathanamthitta district at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. Initial investment was Rs 500 crore. Centre’s permission for the project was obtained on August 17 last year.


Meanwhile, “Aranmula Paithruka Grama Karmasamithy” (protest committee) demanded a detailed probe into the land dealings, financial transactions and political-bureaucratic interventions in favour of the proposed airport at Aranmula.


In a statement, APGK chiefpatron Kumanam Rajasekhraran said Centre should not have accorded approval to a project that has violated land laws, environmental rules and more over, not obtained environmental clearance.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവളം: വിദഗ്ദ്ധാന്വേഷണം വേണം-പൈതൃകഗ്രാമകര്‍മസമിതി

ആറന്മുളയില്‍ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്‌ വേണ്ടി 400 കോടി ചെലവഴിച്ചതായി അഡ്വക്കേറ്റ്‌ ജനറലും കെജിഎസ്‌ കമ്പനിയും നടത്തിയ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തലിനെക്കുറിച്ച്‌ അന്വേഷിക്കണമെന്ന്‌ ആറന്മുള പൈതൃകഗ്രാമകര്‍മസമിതി രക്ഷാധികാരി കുമ്മനം രാജശേഖരന്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനായി പ്രധാനമന്ത്രിയുടെ ഉപദേഷ്ടാവ്‌ റ്റി.കെ.എ. നായരുടെ ഇടപെടല്‍ ഉണ്ടായതായും കുമ്മനം പറഞ്ഞു.
ആറന്മുളയില്‍ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനായി നാളിതുവരെ 400 കോടി രൂപാ ചെലവഴിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നാണ്‌ ഗ്രീന്‍ ട്രൈബ്യൂണല്‍ മുമ്പാകെ അഡ്വക്കേറ്റ്‌ ജനറലും കെജിഎസ്‌ കമ്പനിയും ബോധിപ്പിച്ചത്‌.

ചുരുങ്ങിയ കാലയളവിനുള്ളില്‍ ഇത്രയധികം തുക എന്തിനുവേണ്ടിയാണ്‌ ചെലവഴിച്ചതെന്ന്‌ സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ വ്യക്തമാക്കണമെന്നും ആറന്മുളയിലെ ഭൂമി ഇടപാടുകള്‍, സാമ്പത്തിക സ്രോതസ്സ്‌, രാഷ്ട്രീയബന്ധം, ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥ ഇടപെടല്‍ എന്നിവ സംബന്ധിച്ച്‌ വിദഗ്ധാന്വേഷണം വേണമെന്നും കുമ്മനം രാജശേഖരന്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.

വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനായി ശ്രമം ആരംഭിച്ചനാള്‍ മുതല്‍ ദേശീയ തലത്തില്‍തന്നെ ക്രമക്കേടും അഴിമതിയും ദുരൂഹതകളും ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുള്ളതിനാല്‍ സിബിഐ, കേന്ദ്ര ഇന്റലിജന്‍സ്‌ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ള കേന്ദ്ര ഏജന്‍സികള്‍ അന്വേഷണം നടത്തണം. പാരിസ്ഥിതികാനുമതി ലഭിക്കാത്തതും ഭൂനിയമങ്ങള്‍ ലംഘിച്ചതുമായ പദ്ധതിക്ക്‌ രാഷ്ട്രപതി അംഗീകാരം നല്‍കിയത്‌ ഉപദേഷ്ടാവായ റ്റി.കെ.എ നായരുടെ ഇടപെടല്‍ കാരണമാണ്‌. യാതൊരു രേഖകളും പരിശോധിക്കാതെ രാഷ്ട്രപതി ഇത്തരമൊരു പ്രഖ്യാപനം നടത്താനിടയായ സാഹചര്യം അന്വേഷിക്കണമെന്നും കെജിഎസ്‌ കമ്പനി സമ്പാദിച്ച എല്ലാഅനുമതികളും പുനഃപരിശോധിച്ച്‌ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥര്‍ക്കെതിരെ നടപടിയെടുക്കണമെന്നും കുമ്മനം ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.

കണ്ണൂര്‍ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്‌ അനുമതി ലഭിക്കാന്‍ പതിനാലുവര്‍ഷം വേണ്ടിവന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ ആറന്മുളയില്‍ നെല്‍വയലും നീര്‍ത്തടവും നീര്‍ച്ചാലുകളും നികത്തി വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്‌ വിവിധ മന്ത്രാലയങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നും അനുമതി വാങ്ങാന്‍ വെറും ഒരുവര്‍ഷമേ വേണ്ടിവന്നുള്ളു. രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സുരക്ഷയ്ക്ക്‌ ഭീഷണിയാണെന്ന കാരണം ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി അനുമതി നിഷേധിച്ച പ്രതിരോധമന്ത്രാലയം വെറും 20 ദിവസം കൊണ്ട്‌ നിലപാട്‌ മാറ്റിയതും കേന്ദ്ര വിജിലന്‍സിനെക്കൊണ്ട്‌ അന്വേഷിപ്പിക്കണം. ജനങ്ങളെക്കാള്‍ വലുത്‌ കോര്‍പ്പറേറ്റ്‌ കമ്പനി മുതലാളിമാരാണെന്ന സര്‍ക്കാര്‍ നിലപാട്‌ ജനവഞ്ചനയാണെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്‍ത്തു.

പത്രസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പൈതൃകഗ്രാമസമിതി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ പി. ഇന്ദുചൂഢന്‍, വര്‍ക്കിംഗ്‌ പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ അഡ്വ. കെ. ഹരിദാസ്‌, ജനറല്‍ കണ്‍വീനര്‍ പി.ആര്‍. ഷാജി, കണ്‍വീനര്‍മാരായ അജിത്‌ പുല്ലാട്‌, പ്രദീപ്‌ അയിരൂര്‍ എന്നിവരും പങ്കെടുത്തു.

Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council demands Probe....

A reliable, scientific and detailed probe into the discrepancies behind the proposed Aranmula airport has been demanded by the Aranmula Paithruka Grama Karmasamithy. In a press statement, Kummanam Rajasekharan, Chief  Patron of the Karmasamithy says " It's utterly shameful for the President of the Democratic Republic of India to include an illegal airport project in his address to the Parliament." In what circumstances did  he make such a proclamation without going through any documents. What has led him to surpass the pivotal regulations and precedence.
         Valiyathodu, a major tributary of the holy river Pampa was mercilessly filled in the initial stages of the project and the then RDO, Adoor had taken action against it. The Govt. that ignored the RDO's imposition of a fine of 18 lakhs rupees and gave away the entire water stream as share to the company has wronged the people. "Who is dear to the Govt., the corporate who sweeten the pot or the people who cast their vote?", he asks.
         National agencies like CBI, Central Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate and Central Vigilance Commission should dig out the truths behind this perverted project as there were national -level corruption, fraudulent transactions and political- bureaucratic interventios. It took 14 years for Kannur Airport [CIAL] to collect NOC's but in this case, Govt. agencies vie each other to allow certificates for an   airport that dries up wetlands, fills paddy fields and obstructs water streams. As a result the company had to invest only one year to collect them. The Ministry of Defense refused NOC for the project citing it would be a threat to the national security, but astonishingly the MoD changed its stand and endorsed the NOC after 20 days. It should be examined by the Parliamentary committee of the concerned ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission.
       Certificates by the Pollution Control Board and controversial Envirocare were allowed surpassing public referendum as well as trustworthy environmental impact assessment. Karmasamithy demands a thorough examination of all those certificates and severe action against those who hijacked the bureaucratic system. 
      Advocate General [appeared for the State Govt.] and KGS representatives informed the Green Tribunal that the Company has burnt around 400 crore rupees so far. We [the people], deserve to be informed of the financial sources and through what streams such a huge sum of money has flowed. Karmasamithy further urges the Govt. to declare economical aid plans which would be a consolation for the farmers in Aranmula who are vexed of financial drought. The district authorities should also come forward with effective measures to conserve water, agriculture and nature. "The Pampa must be preserved and protected", Kummanam says. 



Source: a press statement by Kummanam Rajasekharan, Chief Patron of  Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council


Sunday, May 5, 2013

ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവള വിരുദ്ധ സമരം ശക്തമാക്കും

http://www.deshabhimani.com/newscontent.php?id=294106

തിരു: ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവള പദ്ധതിക്കെതിരായ സമരം ശക്തമാക്കാന്‍ തീരുമാനം. സുഗതകുമാരിയുടെ അധ്യക്ഷതയില്‍ ചേര്‍ന്ന ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവള വിരുദ്ധ സംയുക്തസമരസമിതിയുടെ യോഗത്തിലാണ് തീരുമാനം. ലോക ജൈവ വൈവിധ്യദിനമായ 23ന് കോഴഞ്ചേരിയില്‍ പൊതുജന കൂട്ടായ്മ സംഘടിപ്പിക്കാനും നിശ്ചയിച്ചു. ലോക പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനമായ ജൂണ്‍ അഞ്ചിനു പത്തനംതിട്ട ജില്ലയിലെ എല്ലാ അസംബ്ലി മണ്ഡലത്തിലും പരിസ്ഥിതി സംരക്ഷണ ജനകീയ കൂട്ടായ്മകള്‍ സംഘടിപ്പിക്കാനും ഇതില്‍ എല്ലാ രാഷ്ട്രീയ-സാമൂഹ്യ-പരിസ്ഥിതി സംഘടനകളെയും പങ്കെടുപ്പിക്കാനും തീരുമാനിച്ചു. ജൂലൈ ആറിനു പത്തനംതിട്ട ജില്ലയിലെ എല്ലാ പഞ്ചായത്തിലും സമരം ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്താനുള്ള വിമാനത്താവള വിരുദ്ധ ജനകീയ കൂട്ടായ്മകള്‍ സംഘടിപ്പിക്കാനും തീരുമാനിച്ചു. നിലവിലുള്ള ചട്ടങ്ങള്‍ ലംഘിച്ച് അനുമതി നല്‍കിയ ആറന്മുള വിമാനത്താവള പദ്ധതി ഉപേക്ഷിക്കണമെന്ന പാര്‍ലമെന്ററി സ്റ്റാന്‍ഡിങ് കമ്മിറ്റിയുടെ ശുപാര്‍ശയെ യോഗം അഭിനന്ദിച്ചു. യോഗത്തില്‍ എം എ ബേബി എംഎല്‍എ, മുല്ലക്കര രത്നാകരന്‍ എംഎല്‍എ, എ പത്മകുമാര്‍ , ടി കെ ജി നായര്‍ , കുമ്മനം രാജശേഖര ന്‍, മനോജ് ചരലേല്‍ , ബാബു കോയിക്കലത്ത്, കെ എ ജോസഫ്, ഷാജി ചാക്കോ, എസ് ഹരി, കെ കൃഷ്ണന്‍കുട്ടി, പി ഇന്ദുചൂഡന്‍ തോമസ് ജോസഫ്, എം കെ ദിലീപ്, ശ്രീരംഗനാഥന്‍ , എസ് ഉഷ, ആര്‍ ശ്രീധര്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ വിവിധ സംഘടനകളെ പ്രതിനിധാനം ചെയ്ത് പങ്കെടുത്തു.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Aranmula project hits another hurdle as land declared excess: The New Indian Express


05th May 2013 08:06 AM
In a severe jolt to the Aranmula airport project, the revenue authorities have declared 232 acres on the project site as excess land.
The decision to declare total 340 acres of land as excess, which included the airport site, was taken at a meeting of the Kozhenchery Taluk Land Board chaired by deputy collector Abdul Samad, on April 10.
The land, comprising mostly paddy fields, was under the ownership of Abraham Kalamannil of the Mount Zion Group, who later sold it to the airport’s proprietors, the KGS Group. Of the 340 acres, the rest are in the nearby Kidangannur, Mezhuveli and Mallappuzhassery areas.
Kozhenchery Tahasildar Daniel Mathew said the acquisition of the excess land would begin this week itself. The entire 340 acres are now set to come under the land bank of the government.
The declaration of excess land was made on the basis of the Kerala Land Reforms Act of 1961, which pegged the land holding limit at 15 acres.
Abraham failed to get the revenue authorities’ permission, mandatory for keeping excess land.
Another piece of land bought by the KGS Group for the project, a 43-acre expanse, is also in limbo as this would soon be declared excess, sources said.

House panel: Shelve airport at Aranmula


House panel: Shelve airport at Aranmula



http://newindianexpress.com/nation/House-panel-Shelve-airport-at-Aranmula/2013/05/04/article1574117.ece


04th May 2013 08:45 AM
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has recommended reconsideration of the proposed airport at Aranmula on the grounds that it violates the government policy of not allowing a new greenfield airport within 150 km of an existing airport.
The committee headed by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, in its report, a copy of which is with Express, said, “The committee finds that the proposed greenfield airport at Aranmula is 120 km away  from Thiruvananthapuram and 90 km from Kochi, where there are international airports and  it ‘is violative of the government policy of not allowing an airport within 150 km’.
The report further stated that the international airports in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are new ones.
“The committee notes that the proposed Aranmula airport is violating the 150-km distance rule and the saturation, in terms of capacity, of nearby existing airports. The committee therefore recommends that the proposal for the construction of Aranmula airport may be reconsidered by the government,” the report stated.
Before coming out with the report, the panel asked for existing guidelines for setting up a second airport within an airport limit, and found that Chapter eight of Policy on Airport Infrastructure indicates that no greenfield airport will be normally allowed within an aerial distance of 150 km of an existing airport.
A greenfield airport may be permitted where an existing one is unable to meet the projected needs of traffic or a new point of traffic emerges with sufficient viability.

Parliamentary panel findings hailed

The Thiruvaranmula Paithruka Grama Karma Samiti (TPGKS) has welcomed the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture chaired by Sitaram Yechury that found there was no need for setting up an airport at Aranmula in the 150-km radius of an international airport in Kerala.
Samiti general convener P.R. Shaji said the Parliamentary committee’s report was a supporting factor to the stand taken by the people of Aranmula on the controversial private airport project.
Mr. Shaji expressed hope that the Union government would accept the committee’s report and cancel clearances accorded to it without delay. The people’s action council’s strong fears were that the controversial private airport project at Aranmula involved alarming environmental and legal issues, he said. The Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF), too, welcomed the Parliamentary panel’s findings on the airport project.
Saleem P. Chacko, RYF national executive committee member, said the panel’s recommendation was a recognition to the ongoing mass movement against the project.
Cancel clearances: CPI
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has called upon the Union and the State governments to cancel whatever clearances they had granted for setting up the proposed private airport project at Aranmula in the wake of the findings of the parliamentary standing committee.
In a statement here on Friday, P. Prasad, CPI district secretary, said the committee findings had exposed the fact that various clearances granted to the controversial airport project by the Union Ministries of Defence and Civil Aviation were against the laws of the land.

Youth Pledge to Take Charge of Mother Pampa

Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai lighting the lamp
Aren't you hearing the wails of Mother Pampa, asked poet Mohan Aranmula. When she is being  attacked and is bruised. How can you stand and watch. Born at the Sabarimala hills and feeding the children all these years now she is in this plight, she is pleading with Lord Parthasarathy at Aranmula. Don't abandon me, don't tell me, me in distress, that you are not seeing my plight, please. The audience at the Sathra Kadavu, at Aranmula on the banks of the holy river Pampa, sun setting at the western horizon, felt the pain swell deep within. Mohan ended saying that  her children are now getting ready, with the blessings of the Lord they shall avenge the wrongs. That the bruised Mother Nature is healed.

It was the new generation from across Kerala sitting there. The program was Paithrukom - 2013
Mohan Aranmula
organized by the Vidyarthi Seva Trust and ABVP Kerala. A generation that has to take charge of the land tomorrow. It was the first day of the program and included a Pampa Arathy, worshipping the river, Pampa Vilakku, floating lamps in the river and classes on the native rituals of nature worship that gave the land its symbiotic cultural traits. Made weak in the phase of colonization and getting weaker in the post independence days when Kerala went under a psedo-colonial lobby. When the land and its environment was subject to abuse all over. And the destroyers are at their best now, nature degraded all over and human greed violating all norms. Here was an assertion of saner minds, a strong one at that, that the control is being taken back by the nature loving native youth. And these were the youth who needed the basic inputs of native culture, now eclipsed and marginalized.

Prof. Thomas P Thomas, Study Class
The program started with the eminent folklorist  Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai lighting a lamp under the ages old mango tree on the banks of the river Pampa. The folklorist and doyen of Kerala performing arts took the youth through the hidden messages of ritual arts in the region. What was revealing to the youth who get an education framed during the colonial era and what is still continued, education made a commerce by alien lobbies. This here was real education. The native
S Jithesh, Cartoonist taking Class
mutuality of culture and environment is least understood now as the speakers pointed out.  General Convener of the Paithruka Grama Samithy, P R Shaji gave a briefing to the youth about the ongoing agitation against the airport and the statewide plans of the Aranmula Heritage Movement which is being spread all over Kerala. The poetry session was powerful and was one asking the youth to take responsibility, not look away, be true to themselves. It is their own survival system in peril. To drive away the nature's enemies, protect mother land.

Pampa Arathy, Acharya Lal Prasad Bhattathiri 
The Pampa Arathi, worship of the Mother Pampa, then Mother India, Mother Ganges, and all her holy rivers. Prayers to Mother Earth to forgive all the sins, give strength to win over evil, to protect us, give solace and happiness to all of mankind, its beings. It was done as the sky took a crimson hue of red, sun was setting. The sacred river of the Malayali was slow flowing, ravaged but majestic still. Highly respected Acharya Lal Prasad Bhattathiri lead the ancient rituals. The bell clangs and mantras reverberated on the banks of the Pampa. And the youth, all who were present, repeated the matras, for Earth Mother, Ecological Health, World Peace. The nature seemed pleased. Then the youth took to Pampa Villakku, floating lamps on the river bed, an ancient ritual in India honoring the rivers, the lifelines of nature. It was a return to the olden day native strengths and as Kummanam Rajasekharan, Patron of the movement said, these are timeless customs of this land and we are duty bound to take it to the next generation. What kept this land green and fertile. No evil power can stop us and they shall be avenged. It is also the past history of this land and its people, he declared.

Performing Ritual Art, Padayani
The high light of the program was a live performance of Padayani, a sacred performing art, kind of war dance, done in temples, from the troupe Paithruka Kala Kalari, Naranganam. This is a ritual that enacts the fight of evil and good and the Mother Goddess armed with the sword and the oil lit torch dances in abandon and destroys the enemies after a hard fight. It creates a hoary scene in the evening darkness. With the colored face masks, drum beats and violent steps accompanied by the high pitched songs in chorus, it created an other worldly scene on the banks of Pampa as people mesmerized stood and watched. All of them in fact prayed too. The master, Asan, of the folk art, Radhakrishan Nair, Naranganam, was also honored at the function.

Mala Kalakkal, Class by Stage Artist
The youth had audio-visual supported classes lead by N K Sukumaran Nair, long time crusader fighting for Pampa river conservation. One of the most senior environmentalists, also Secretary of  Pampa Samrakshana Samithy talk by Nair was followed by an academic, Prof. Thomas P Thomas, and others. The program also had trips to the nearby wetlands, once lush paddy fields but now mostly barren after years of plotting against the traditional paddy sector by post-colonial exploiter communities. Now threatened more by an airport project.  Sacred Groves like Aringottu Kavu was visited and classes by well known experts on other areas from yoga, spirituality to those in the modern idiom were equally stressed. The youth had enjoyable moments with Varayarangu, where cartoonist S Jithesh,
Pampa Villakku, lamps
being floated 
famous as the quick cartoonist in Kerala. Jithesh with his amazing skills of sketching people in moments impressed the audience. There was a session of role play and drama lead by Mala Kalakkal, a gifted actor. Conducted inside a grove Mala made the youth enact real life scenes. Like the local people's representatives playing in real life, as saviors when among the people, secretly fixing deals elsewhere, getting rewards from the people's enemies. Beauty of the program was that it was all organised by the youth themselves, lads of the students of the ABVP, Akhila Bharateeya Vidyarthi Parishat. It was locally lead by K K Manoj and O Nidhish, and a team of Rathish R Mohan overseeing. Vinu, Aswin, Akhil, Gokul and others planed and managed program and they the also struggled to raise the funds through house to house collections. No wonder for the state with a cancerous minority economy dictating terms resources are scarce for the Hindu segment. The program is to continue at Aranmula and similar programs shall be organized across the state, those interested have been invited to get in touch.