Disruption of road widening works emerging as a political issue in Idukki

With another local body election around the corner, the disruption of road widening works on the Neryamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway has emerged as a major political issue in Idukki district.

The Congress is continuing a series of protests against the government over the issue. The Congress Adimaly Mandalam committee staged a blockade of the National Highway at Irumpupalam, near Adimaly, on Tuesday, demanding the resumption of road widening works.

Idukki MP, Dean Kuriakose inaugurated the protest. Mr Kuriakose alleged that the State government is cheating the poor in Idukki by refusing to file an affidavit before the court stating that there is no right for the Forest Department on the 14-km stretch of highway. “The High Court has posted the case for the next sitting on October 7, and before the date, the government should submit a new affidavit before the court,” said Mr Kuriakose.

The police tried to remove the Congress workers from the road leading to a clash. On Monday, Youth Congress workers took out a march to Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine’s office at Cheruthoni in Idukki, seeking steps for resumption of works on the stretch.

In July, the Kerala High Court issued an order restricting road-widening works and tree-felling on the Neriamangalam-Valara-Adimaly stretch following a petition filed by the Idukki-based environmentalist M.N. Jayachandran.

The National Highway Protection Council plans to take out a protest on the issue.

National Highway Protection Council General Convenor Rasak Chooravelil said that the council has called a meeting at Adimaly on October 2. “The meeting will discuss the future protest regarding the issue. The council plans to conduct a 48-hour Idukki district hartal, preventing the journey of all forest department vehicles on the Valara-Neryamangalam stretch and spreading the protest to all parts of the district. We hope the government will submit a new affidavit in court before October 7. If the government fails to submit the affidavit, the council will proceed with the protests,” said Mr Chooravelil.

“The construction works have blocked a 14-km stretch of road and are currently in a poor state of repair. Thousands of tourists depend on the road to reach Ernakulam from the Munnar hill station,” said Mr. Chooravelil.