National Highway Protection Council Stages Long March in Idukki

Speedy Summary

• The National Highway Protection Council organized a long march and hartal in Devikulam taluk to oppose “illegal interventions” by the Forest Department that hinder the widening of the 14.5-km Neriamangalam-Valara-Adimaly stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway.
• Protesters marched from Munnam Mile at Valara to the Neriamangalam forest range office, with public meetings held in Neriamangalam town.
• The Kerala High Court had earlier restricted road-widening and tree-felling activities on this stretch following a petition by environmentalist M.N. jayachandran, leading to stalled construction work.
• Thousands participated in protests, calling on the government to address delays in resuming road construction works.
• Protesters emphasized this highway’s importance for hospital-, job-, and study-related travel between Idukki district and Ernakulam.

Indian Opinion analysis

The ongoing conflict over tree-felling restrictions highlights a complex interplay between infrastructure growth needs and environmental conservation priorities in India’s ecologically sensitive regions like Kerala’s Idukki district. While protestors stress practical issues such as connectivity for critical services like healthcare and education through improved roads, environmental concerns raised by judicial interventions illustrate broader challenges tied to lasting development models.

Balancing these interests may require innovative solutions such as eco-sensitive infrastructure designs or compensatory afforestation programs that meet both developmental aspirations and ecological safeguards – effectively aligning national highways with India’s sustainable growth goals. Swift government action addressing stakeholder demands while adhering to legal protocols could help defuse tensions before they escalate further.

Read more: The Hindu