KL This Week: Palakkad Residents Protest Against Translocation of Wild Tusker from Idukki District

NewsClick brings a round-up of important happenings in Kerala this week, including the terror plot on the Kozhikode train, a fire incident, protests in Parambikulam against the High Court order to translocate a wild tusker from Idukki to Palakkad, and opposition to the NCERT's decision to drop portions on medieval history.

‘FAILED TERROR PLOT’

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) have confirmed terror links in the Kozhikode train fire incident. The accused Shahrukh Saifi of Uttar Pradesh was forced to carry out the crime by influential groups, as per reports. The investigation may be handed over to the NIA very soon following reports on terror links to the incident.

The Anti Terror Squad (ATS) had nabbed the accused following a joint operation of police teams from Kerala and Mahaastra. The Kerala police had formed different squads to nab the culprit following a sketch prepared from inputs of eye witnesses. 

The suspect was reportedly deputed to set a compartment in the Alappuzha- Kannur Executive Express on April 2 which left three people dead and nine other injured. The accused was nabbed from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra from a hospital where he was reportedly receiving treatment for injuries sustained while jumping from the train after the incident. 

The chief minister visited the kin of the deceased and announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased. 

TENDER FOR BIO WASTE TREATMENT IN BRAHMAPURAM PLANT

The Kochi Corporation has placed a tender to set up a biowaste treatment plant in the Brahmapuram dumpyard. The tender price is Rs 48.56 crores for setting up the treatment plant within eight months to process 150 tons waste per day.

The winning company would operate the plant for a period of five years and has to take care of the maintenance works. Companies with five years experience in processing 43,000 tons waste per year are eligible to participate in the tender. 

Earlier the local body had invited a private firm from Pune to participate in the tender for Windrow Compost Plant in the dumpyard site. The key corporation in the state is exploring multiple possibilities to find solutions to the ‘waste problem’ in the city, an IT hub in the state. 

PROTEST AGAINST TUSKER’S TRANSLOCATION

The Kerala High Court has ordered the government to translocate ‘Arikomban’, the rogue tusker from Chinnakanal region from Idukki to Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Palakkad. The news has brought joy to the residents of Chinnakanal but has created panic among the people around the sanctuary.

A 12-hour hartal would be observed in Muthalamada Panchayat on April 10 against the decision. 

The MLA from Nenmara, K Babu, has written a letter to the chief minister not to relocate the elephant considering the fear among the public. A protest was also held against the order to capture, radio-collar, and relocate the tusker to the Parambikulam sanctuary.

The tusker is known to frequently invade ration shops to take away rice. The issue has been raised in the letter written by the MLA. There are frequent wild animal attacks in the region which has forced the people to oppose the court order. 

GREEN ENERGY CORRIDOR BY KSEB

The kfW, state owned bank of Germany, has sanctioned Rs 919 cores for the green energy corridor project of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The Kerala Green Energy Corridor Project at Rs 1,457 crores will be carried out by the KSEB with funds of Rs 138.71 crores from the union government, while the KSEB will mobilise the remaining funds for the project. 

The project will cover Kannur, Kasargod, and Wayanad districts through the North Green Power Project, Attappady Green Power Corridor Project, and the Ramakkalmedu Green Power Corridor Project. 

HEAVY RAINS IN KOLLAM AND PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICTS

Sudden heavy rains and winds left two dead in Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts on April 4. A housewife in Kollam was killed when rubber trees fell on her while coming out from her home after the rain receded. Another 32-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on him while driving a scooter. 

The sudden downpour inundated several places in the districts. Several trees and electric poles were uprooted while roofs of houses were blown away in the speedy winds.

ANIL ANTONY JOINS BJP

Anil Antony, son of former defence minister and former chief minister of Kerala A K Antony joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi. He accused the Congress party of concentrating on the interest of individuals. 

Anil resigned from Congress and his position as head of the Digital Media Cell of the party after opposing the BBC documentary on Gujarat riots which took place in 2002.

Antony met the press and expressed his displeasure over his son’s decision to leave the party. K Sudhakaran, president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) claimed that Anil joining BJP was a betrayal.