NH protection forum to hold long march and Devikulam taluk hartal on July 31

The National Highway Protection Council has decided to take out a long march and hold a Devikulam taluk hartal on July 31, demanding an end to the ’illegal interventions’ by the Forest Department that hinder the widening of the 14.5-km Neriamangalam-Valara-Adimaly stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway.

National Highway co-ordination committee general convener Rasak Chooravelil said that the long march will begin from the premises of the Aram Mile forest station to the Neriamangalam forest range office.

“Various farmers’ groups, religious organisations such as KPMS, the Catholic Church, SNDP, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, and the Jacobite Church, and political parties such as Congress, NDA, and the Aam Aadmi Party have expressed their support for the protest march. The protesters will reach Adimaly around 9.30 a.m. and move to the Aram Mile forest station through a vehicle rally. The long march will begin at 10.30 am,” said Mr. Chooravelil.

Recently, the Kerala High Court issued an order restricting road-widening works and tree felling on the 14.5-km Neriamangalam-Valara-Adimaly stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway following a petition filed by Idukki-based environmentalist M.N. Jayachandran.

According to Mr. Chooravelil, on May 30, 2024, a division bench of the High Court issued the order on a writ petition moved by five residents of Idukki, stating that forest officials should not interfere with the widening of the Neriamangalam, Valara, and Adimali road stretch.

The order also declared that revenue land encompassed 100 meters of the road. But recently, the State’s Additional Chief Secretary filed an affidavit before the High Court regarding the case, stating that the area is forest land. The affidavit negatively impacted the development of the road, said Mr. Chooravelil.

The road widening is a long-term demand for the people in Idukki. “The Chief Minister should intervene in the issue and submit a new affidavit before the court and take steps to resume the road widening works,” said Mr. Chooravelil.