The social impact assessment (SIA) report, prepared by the Rajagiri OutReach, a non-governmental organization, has confirmed the fears of residents of Ayyampuzha, where the proposed Global Industrial Finance and Trade (GIFT) City is coming up.
KOCHI: The social impact assessment (SIA) report, prepared by the Rajagiri OutReach, a non-governmental organization, has confirmed the fears of residents of Ayyampuzha, where the proposed Global Industrial Finance and Trade (GIFT) City is coming up.
However, the report suggests the government to go ahead with the project by recommending compensation, rehabilitation and employment opportunities for members of the affected families.
The report inadvertently admits that there is heavy tree cover in the proposed project site as it is part of the Western Ghats and calls ‘for the protection of the environment, perpetuate the trees in the affected areas as far as possible and measures should be taken for replantation in lieu of the destroyed trees.’
The proposed project is coming up in 220 hectares in 59 resurvey numbers in Ayyampuzha village. The 76-page report has been prepared as part of the land acquisition for the project.
Opinion of 90 landowners were taken as part of preparing the assessment. Of the 90, 53 people have expressed their willingness to give the land for the project, while 21 were not ready to give their land and 13 took a neutral stand.
Rubber, coconut, tapioca, plantain and vegetable cultivation are in most of the land to be acquired for the project. Of the 90 people surveyed, the report admits that 76 are doing cultivation and in most land, there are wells, ponds, sheds etc. It also says that not only the landowners but also labourers will lose their means of livelihood when the land is acquired for the project.
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