Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedhi releases agenda for parties

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedhi (KPAV) released 'Green Agenda', a collection of 55 suggestions that could be included in election manifestoes of political parties.
Criticizing the incumbent government for its 'unsustainable' and 'non-green' developmental agendas, KPAV representatives said the next government should address the issue.
The suggestions include publishing government orders and cabinet decisions related to environment online. It also called for publishing a databank online as stipulated in State Paddy and Wetlands conservation Act 2009. "Kazhakoottam-Vizhinjam highway is being constructed unscientifically. The authorities blindly follow the standards set by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which may not always apply to the hilly terrain in the state," said Sridhar Radhakrishnan of Thanal, an environmental organization, representing KPAV. Industries should not be allotted new land until earlier allotted land is utilized and no environmentally-sensitive land should be allotted, it was suggested. A five year 'sand holiday' should be declared for water bodies to naturally replenish and repair damage caused due to indiscriminate sand mining. Also, district-level environmental impact assessment committees should be formed to monitor mining operations.
"The document was given to chief minister and cabinet ministers in September 2012 at a seminar but to no avail," he added. The collective also suggested forming a commission to undertake a cumulative impact assessment on socio-economic, cultural and environmental impact of Vizhinjam project.