Kollam: a meeting convened by minister for ports K.Babu on Wednesday decided ti stop the reclamation activities at the Kannatti Lake. This is in continuation of promise the minister has made in the assembly earlier this week.

The meeting attendede by deputy collector,t ahsildar, municipal authorities, Pallikalar Samrakashna samithi,and others, also gave the directed the authorities concerned to regain the old status of the lake by removing the sand which had been pilled up at the lake. The meeting also decided to continue with the dredging of the lake so as to increase the depth and connect the lake with the national coastal line and go ahead with the construction of 1500meters of retaining wall.

According to Pallikalar Samrakshana Samithy president Dinesh Lal around 40% of the lake had been reclaimed and thus destroyed the whole equilibrium of the environment there.it would be a tough task to regain the original land as it had been. “The authorities have opened their eyes to our demand to protect the lake. It was the president agitation by the samithi members and timely invention of MLA C Divakaran, made this happen,” said Lal.

Though the samithi had been protesting against the work for seven months, the issue came to light after TOI had reported it. Following the report, MLA C Divakaran raised the issue in the assembly.

Source:The Times, 29 June 2012