Angst was writ large among the residents of Amboori grama panchayat that observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in protest against the regulations prescribed in the draft notification issued to declare as Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in the areas around the Neyyar and the Peppara wildlife sanctuaries.
The residents of the leafy suburb abutting the protected areas feared the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change could impact livelihoods and impede development in the locality.
The hartal was total in the panchayat with shops and other establishments remaining closed throughout the day. While the agitation remained peaceful, several vehicles that passed by the area were blocked by the protesters.
