engineer on natural eco-systems . In fact , these walls alone are enough to make Kerala fear a water bomb . Flag Experts and Veteran Journalist Suggestions Many of the pro-project flag experts , journalists and environmentalists talking about the reduced time between Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod districts of four hours are urging to implement the project . Another group of experts , veteran journalists and environmentalists are arguing about the environmental destruction and effects that would be created by the proposed silver line project . Many of the natural resources will be destroyed and livelihoods and lives of poor people will be affected . Overall project construction process and land acquisition is not going to be easy and government is conspiring to implement the project in Kerala at any cost .
The Vizhinjam International Port is a classical case study . The project has unleashed an environmental disaster , and is also facing a financial breakdown . Many scientists , environmental groups and fisher folk had right from the beginning voiced their opposition to this project , and were characteristically ignored . In the last five years , hills have been quarried for rocks to be deposited into the sea to build the sea wall for the port . But every time the coast is hit by a cyclone or high tidal waves , the walls collapse , wasting precious resources . Only a quarter of the sea wall has been built , and the project has already shot its timeline by nearly two years . It has also eroded the fishing and tourist beaches , including Kovalam and Shankhumukham . Hundreds of fisher families have lost their homes to the sea . The Vizhinjam project , which was hyped to make Thiruvananthapuram a paradise , has now become a centre-point of disaster .
Earlier floods , landslides were only during the monsoon season . Today we are faced with a catastrophe that can be expected at any time due to the low pressures that occur as part of climate change . The question of
October - 2021 whether the landscape of Kerala , which is in constant decline due to natural calamities and has a weak habitat , can withstand the impact of such a massive project remains unanswered . This is a question that environmentalists are pointing out and that the government is not giving enough consideration , seriousness and vigilance .
The government ’ s interpretation is that the K-Rail will pave the way for Kerala ’ s leap . Those who are aware of the present state of the Kerala economy and the fragile ecological structure cannot even dream of such a project . According to the CAG report , Kerala ’ s public debt is rising like an inflated balloon . What happens when extra air gets inside the balloon is what happens when a debt-ridden economy is mortgaged and reborrowed such a huge amount . The history of the countries that went bankrupt due to overborrowing , regardless of the health of the economy , is an open book before us . When the proposed Silver Line is thoroughly analyzed in the case of Kerala , leading experts in the field , point out that it is likely to turn into an economic catastrophe along with an irreparable environmental catastrophe .
K-Rail estimates that 9314 buildings would have to be demolished and 10,000 families may have to be relocated . This number could be double the given estimates . Many pro project experts said , this railway line system is better option as five airports and neighbouring airport is well connected in Coimbatore to Kasargod . The flight ticket charges are around 1,800 rupees and the present high speed rail facility plans to charge 2,000 rupees . So , question arises how many poor people are going to use high speed rail and flights to travel . Moreover , most of the population migrate to other states and countries for their livelihood and the new silver line is hardly useful for people . Many thousands of peoples ’ lives will be disrupted .
Protests by People of Kerala
Protests on the streets are limited due to the Covid protocol . But in the online and social media plat-forms , a large number of people from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram and many organizations have formed dozens of active anti-Silver line protest committees . Not only those who are at risk of losing their homes and farms but also those who have insight into the huge environmental disaster that this project is going to create are actively protesting . Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad , Kerala Paristhi Aikyavedi , Local Environmental Organizations , Progressive Political Front , Anti-Silver Line People ’ s Committee , Economic , Technical and Environmental Experts and many other organizations and individuals are opposing the project and sharing information of environ-mental , economic and technical concerns related to the project .
Prabudha Kerala has always opposed development projects that cause environmental destruction . They are insulted in the name of development blockers and environmental fundamentalists . This accusation is made by those who are on the path of capitalist development . Instead of taking only what society needs from nature , profiteering capitalism has plundered nature as much as it can . All environmental disruption were justified in the name of “ development projects ”.
Studies have shown that this exploitation of nature by capitalistimperialist powers around the world has not only led to global climate change but has also threatened the survival of many nations and human beings . By 2030 , sea level will rise by about 15 cm , 34 cm by 2050 and 111 cm in 2100 respectively . The weather summit is based on a study report . The summit shaped an international agreement called the Paris Agreement . With this , environmentally destructive projects were opposed all over the world . Awareness programs were launched to raise awareness for environmental protection at the international level . The U . S . government withdrew from this in 2018 but rectified it in 2021 . But LDF in Kerala is arguing like the Trump administration .
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