KANNUR
Kannur Bishop Alex Joseph Vadakumthala has said that the government should clear the apprehensions of the people before going ahead with the implementation of the semi-high speed rail (SilverLine) project.
Bishop Vadakumthala, who was an invited guest at the inaugural ceremony of the 23rd Party Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M), which began in Kannur on Wednesday, said that if the project was for the common people, the government had the responsibility to take the people into confidence by addressing their anxiety and doubts. “People are still in the dark about the detailed project report. They expect more clarity about the total expenses; who they are borrowing the money from; how the amount will be repaid; the compensation for people’s land acquired; the buffer zone and other matters,” he told The Hindu on the sidelines of the Party Congress. He said that the government should also ensure that the compensation and benefits were given to the affected people before any developmental project was implemented. People were agitating and protesting as they felt that the government was trying to forcibly implement the project. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka had further increased their fears, the Bishop said. People could not be kept in the dark about projects, whether they were implemented by the Central or State government. People had the right to know. Otherwise, such projects would get stalled, he said. He said that the common concern had been officially communicated by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council through its statement to the Chief Minister. Referring to the Chief Minister’s statement on the SilverLine project at the Party Congress, he said that the government seemed to have mellowed down from its hard stance and listened to the appeal of the people. It was a welcome change, he said.
