Ramping up pressure on the Kerala government, the Kallikkad grama panchayat observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal against the draft notification issued to declare an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Neyyar and the Peppara wildlife sanctuaries on Thursday.
It was only a few days ago that the Amboori grama panchayat had observed a hartal with regard to the issue that continued to roil local bodies in the region. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has convened a meeting of people’s representatives on Friday to discuss the issue and evolve the State’s response to the draft notification. Besides Amboori and Kallikkad, Aryanad, Kuttichal and Vithura are the other grama panchayats likely to be affected by the proposed norms.
While the Kallikkad grama panchayat is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an action council that comprised members cutting across political affiliations spearheaded the agitation against the Centre’s notification. Commercial establishments remained closed, while agitators blocked vehicles and diverted them towards other roads.
