KANNUR | May 15, 2015: The CPI(M) district committee is launching a drive to plant mangrove vegetation along either sides of the Valapattanam river as part of its newly-launched environmental initiative to save the river.
CPI(M) district secretary P. Jayarajan, who headed the ‘Jala Yathra’ covering 14 ‘kadavus’ along the river on May 5 as part of the party district committee’s campaign against excessive and illegal sand-mining, said at a press conference here on Thursday that the Valapattanam River Bank Protection Committee being formed would spearhead the mangrove plantation drive on the World Environment Day on June 5.
The river is facing serious river bank erosion owing to excessive sand-mining in the ‘kadavus’ (sand-mining points). Both party workers and people interested in conservation activities would be mobilised for the initiative, he said.
The mangrove plantation campaign was planned in the context of the finding during the Jala Yathra that the areas having mangrove vegetation managed to withstand river bank erosion, Mr. Jayarajan said.
An elaborate mass convention would be held at Kolacherimukku here on May 28 to involve all people cutting across political lines in the initiative.
The mangrove vegetation would form an organic protection wall, he noted. He said the party had taken up the river protection issue to address the serious environmental issue and not for any political motives as had been alleged by some people.
Consultation
River protection committee convener James Mathew, MLA, who was also present at the press meet, said that the mangrove species suitable for planting along the river bank would be identified in consultation with the Forest Department officials. He also said all environmental activists having expertise in mangrove plantation would be involved in the drive.
The CPI(M) district secretary said that excessive sand-mining from recognised kadavus and illegal sand-mining from unauthorised kadavus were causing serious environmental problems such as river bank erosion at Pamburuthi, Koralayi and Kolthuruthi.
Asked if the situation was no different in ‘kadavus’ in panchayats ruled by the CPI(M), he said the campaign to save the river did not differentiate areas on the basis of whether or not they were in panchayats ruled by the CPI(M). Another major environmental issue brought to the CPI(M) leaders’ notice during the yatra was the practice of catching fish using explosives (‘thotta’) in the river, he added. A memorandum submitted to District Collector P. Bala Kiran after the Jala Yathra demanded installation of CCTV cameras and high mast lights in the kadavus known for excessive sand mining, Mr. Jayarajan said. He also said that the Collector had been urged to lift the sand-mining ban in the kadavus where the ban was still in force by completing sand auditing.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)
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