The youth congress activists protest in front of the House of Environmentalists Mn Jayacandran on Sunday in IDUKKI. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The construction of the curbs on the Neryamangalam-Equal section in Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway (NH85), connecting Munnar Hill with Ernakulam, appeared as a political problem in the district after the High Court order about road construction.
On Friday, the High Court issued an order restricting the expansion works on the 14.5 km section, which is at the intersection of the NH, on the petition submitted by the environmentalist Idukki Mn Jayacandran.
Protests in the district broke out after the court order. Different political parties and groups of farmers claimed that Mr. Jayacandran tried to block development activities with the support of the forest department.
Congress for youth organized a protest in front of Mr. Jayacandran’s house. According to the leaders of the congress, the youth workers on Sunday at 10 am at 10 am locked the gate of the house blockade in front of their house in Thodupuzha. Former State Secretary of the Youth, Ma Ansary, launched a protest and said that if Mr. Jayacandran continues to intervene against people, people will not allow him to leave the house. After the protest, the police arrived at the place and unlocked the gate.
Members of the coexistence of Collective, Keral, a team of ecologically conscious and concerned groups across Kerala, demanded negotiations against the employees of the congress for youth.
“Mr. Jayacandran merely exercised his constitutional obligation and civil responsibility by turning to court to prevent illegal activities in forest areas. Backing such a petitioner is an equivalent attack on rule of law, lawsuit and environmental protection,” they said.
Rasak Choravelil, the general conference of the Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM), said Mr. Jayacandran’s interventions resulted in blocking development activities in a hilly district.
“The honorary statement presented by KR Jyothim Lal, another main secretary of the forest department and wild animals, said the area was a reserve forest, and resulted in the construction of a curb order. Representative, for representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives, representatives for the representative for the order.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jayacandran said he would not oppose the construction activities of the highway. “Building activities and tree felling were carried out in the area of reserve forests without the permission of the Ministry of the Environment and Forest (MOEF) and I raised this problem in court,” he said.
Published – 13 July 2025 17:59
