--- jacob lazer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: RIGHT'S ACTVIST CHAINED up KERALA STATE Pollution Control Board REGIONAL office AT KOCHI
Protest against delay in implementing SCMC directives CHAINED FOR A CAUSE: Activists of the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samiti chained themselves to the gate of the Pollution Control Board in the city on Monday in protest against the delay in implementing the Supreme Court committee's directive to pro vide drinking water to the houses in the industrial area. Four activists of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samiti bound themselves to the gates of the office of State Pollution Control Board (PCB), in protest against delay in implementing Supreme Court Monitoring Committee's (SCMC) directives. The SCMC had directed to provide drinking water to houses in five wards in the industrial area of Eloor, cleaning of Kuzhikandam Creek and rejuvenation of Periyar. However, the Board has not initiated any action on these directives, the protesters alleged. In a press release here, the Samiti said that the SCMC directive were issued seven months ago. Even though all ground work for providing drinking water, such as the survey, preparing the estimate and convening meetings of all concerned, had been completed, the Board was yet to divide estimate amount among industrial units and to give commitment letter to the Kerala Water Authority. The protest, which began at 9 a.m., was organised to get assurances regarding the drinking water supply scheme to houses in these five wards, cleaning of Kuzhikandam Creek, non-pollution of Periyar by industrial units situated in the region, setting up a 24-hour monitoring system to ensure this. The protesters were removed by the City Police. Environmentalists who participated in the protest complained that the police action was unwarranted for, as the protestors had agreed to withdraw their protest after the Board chairman and member secretary agreed to discuss on the issues raised on January 18. Sixteen persons, including Anwar, Adam Kutty, Zakkir Hussain and M.G. Unni, who bound themselves to the gate of the Board, were arrested by 12.30 p.m. and were released on bail in the evening.
