The Centre has deputed a high-level team to study environmental issues and concerns regarding the acquisition of paddy land for a proposed National Highway at Keezhattur in Kannur district.
The tiny hamlet in north Kerala district had recently witnessed a series of agitations by farmers and local people against the state government's move to take over agricultural land for the NH project.
The expert team, headed by John Thomas, a research officer at the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, would visit Keezhattur on May 3 and 4 and submit a report to the government, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan today said.
The leader said that he was informed by the Ministry about the panel's visit.
Officials of the National Highway Authority and state government officials would also accompany the panel members, he said here in a release.
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Rajasekharan had recently approached the Environment Ministry against the state government's move to acquire paddy land and apprised them about the concerns of local people.
Agitators comprising farmers and local people, under the banner 'Vayalkkilikal', had alleged that the state government proposal would destroy more than 200 acres of paddy field and leave many people homeless and jobless in Keezhattur and surrounding areas.
It would also result in the destruction of wetland of the area, they said.
The agitation had taken a political turn as most of the participants were former CPI(M) workers, who were expelled from the party after taking part in the stir.
Various political parties, including the BJP, had extended support for the stir.
The issue had also figured in the recently concluded session of the state Assembly, where the Congress-led UDF opposition had alleged that the CPI(M) government was trying to suppress the farmers' agitation.
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