Call to suspend social impact study for SilverLine project

Committee terms 17-page questionnaire “extremely farcical”

Amid raging protest against the SilverLine project, the Anti-K Rail SilverLine People’s Struggle Committee has raised questions about the credibility of the government-appointed agency that has begun a social impact assessment in Payyanur.

The committee, which met on Sunday, demanded that the assessment be immediately stopped and questioned the competence of the agency which was collecting details from people. The committee termed the questions in the 17-page questionnaire for the assessment as “extremely farcical”.

P.C. Vivek, convener of the committee in Kannur asked, “Since the project boundary and buffer zone have not been brought to the notice of the people, on what basis are they being asked about the land to be acquired and its direct impact? Since survey stones have been laid, it is improper to ask landowners about the number of such stones and the geographical area where they are laid. The committee said it was improper to classify the affected people on the basis of religion and caste and APL and BPL categories. “Information such as family members’ names, personal details, particulars about property, employment, and monthly income are more likely to be misused, “Mr. Vivek said.