Kollam: The struggle to retain the vitality of a land and earn livelihoods again was waged for 637 excruciating days in a seaside village here. The people of Panmana who suffered this experience have endearing memories of the great humanist M P Veerendra Kumar, who intervened on their behalf bringing them much needed succour. They were desperate as the sea was devouring their sliver of vulnerable land in which they were packed like sardines. The agitators another demand was that Kerala Metals and Minerals Ltd., should provide jobs to those evicted in the period from 2003 to 2006 to facilitate mining.
A delegation of ‘Save Ponmana Action Council’ led by President N Kuttappan and Secretary K V Viju met Veerendra Kumar, who was in town. Despite his packed schedule on April 18, 2010, he made time to express solidarity with those agitating against the mining flouting all established protocols by Kerala Metals & Minerals Ltd. Convinced of the genuine nature of their plight he pledged the full support of Janata Dal {S} to the struggle.
Veerendra Kumar visited many times in the company of his party leaders and cadre the site of the relay satyagraha, which went on till its successful culmination. He succeeded in getting the issues of the people raised in the state assembly as well as bringing it to public notice the environmental impact triggered by mining without adhering to norms. He proclaimed that such mining without scientific oversight would destroy the culture and geography of the region and warned that Plachimada would be repeated. After studying the issue he had suggested practical solutions to resolve it.
