Thamarassery Bishop says govt stance on buffer zone will hit farmers, calls for protest

Kozhikode: Thamarassery diocese has taken a firm stand against the Kerala government over the satellite survey of the buffer zone. Demanding the withdrawal of the satellite survey report and maps, Thamarassery bishop Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil here on Sunday said that the catholic church will launch a ‘Jana Jagratha Yathra’ on Monday at Koorachundu against the government’s stance on the buffer zone.

 “The government should withdraw the maps and conduct surveys with the assistance of local panchayats”, demanded the bishop.

Reportedly, the map prepared by the forest department, based on satellite survey reports instead of direct inspection, lacks clarity. The Diocese of Thamarassery in Kozhikode told the media that their request was to come out with a buffer zone which would not affect the interests of farmers.

It also termed the satellite survey report as "lacking clarity, inaccurate and incomplete". It said the report should be withdrawn.

“Although we have presented our demands several times, the government is not taking any sincere actions to address our woes. The rally is aimed to raise awareness about the buffer zone issue,” said the bishop.

 “How can we forgive those who published the maps without understanding the pain of those living in hilly areas? Besides appointing forest officers in connection with the buffer zone issue, the government should appoint two or three ministers too,” he added.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) and the agricultural organisations have demanded the government take necessary action to resolve the concerns of the farmers. 

“The KCBC do not think that the chief minister is against the farmers. We suspect that some other lobby is behind the government’s anti-farmers stance on the buffer zone issue,” alleged the Thamarassery diocese.