KL This Week: Fisheries Coordination Committee Opposes Deep Sea Sand Mining

NewsClick brings you important developments from across Kerala in the past week including the failure of the film The Kerala Story, a protest by the Kerala State Fisheries Coordination Committee against the permission granted by the Union government for deep sea sand mining and the proposed collaboration between BPCL and the government of Kerala to set up a waste processing plant in Kochi.

FILM FAILS TO EVOKE POSITIVE RESPONSE

The Kerala Story, a film accused of intending to spread hate and making false claims about ISIS recruits from Kerala, has reportedly flopped at the box office in the state. Many theatres withdrew from screening the movie amid subtle protests from different political parties in the state. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other Sangh Parivar, however, have been fervently promoting the film on social media platforms. The movie even found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election speech in Karnataka. 

The two major political fronts in the state, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) have accused the film of showing Kerala in a bad light and misleading the audience.

Oscar award-winning sound artist Resul Pookutty called upon Twitter users to share their experiences in and about Kerala with #MyKeralaStory, which has generated considerable response from the people of the state. CM Pinarayi Vijayan also tweeted about handing over around 20,000 houses under the LIFE Mission to the homeless and termed it as the ‘real’ Kerala Story.  Read More

BPCL-GoK FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANT IN KOCHI

The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has entered into an agreement with the GoK to set up and operate a waste management plant in Kochi. The company set up and operate a waste to bio compressed natural gas (CNG) plant on its own. 

BPCL is expected to make the plant operational in one year and will use the CNG generated. The decision was announced after Minister for Local Self Governance department (LSGD) M B Rajesh and Minister for Industries P Rajeev held talks with the officials of the BPCL. 

The government is exploring multiple options to bring an end to the garbage problem in Kochi, one of the biggest cities in the state. A massive fire broke out in the Brahmapuram dumpyard a month ago, opening up discussions about decentralised waste management. 

BJP COUNCILLOR ARRESTED FOR ‘ATTACK’ ON ASHRAM

The crime branch police arrested a BJP councillor from Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in an arson case against an ashram in the city. The ashram of Swami Sandeepanandagiri, a vocal critic of Sangh Parivar, was set on fire in October 2018. An active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was also arrested in the case. 

Councillor B R Girikumar and RSS member Sabari are booked under sections pertaining to hatching a conspiracy. The ashram was set on fire by assailants who reportedly arrived at the spot in two cars and a motorcycle. 

PROTEST AGAINST PERMISSION FOR DEEP SEA SAND MINING

The coordination committee of different fisheries unions held a protest march to Raj Bhavan against the permission granted by the Union government for deep sea sand mining. The march was inaugurated by the state general secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Elamaram Kareem MP. 

The march towards the Raj Bhavan was attended by leaders of different fisheries' trade union leaders.

HEAVY RAINS FORECAST

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alerts on different days till May 9 for three districts and has forecast isolated heavy rains in the state. The Mocha cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring relief to the state which witnessed heat waves during the month of April.