Farmers in Kollam Call Shutdown Over Eco-Sensitive Area Rules

Left-leaning farming associations in Keralam's Kollam district have called for a day-long strike in highland areas on October 27 to oppose their inclusion in the Centre's Ecologically Sensitive Area proposal. The protest will run for twelve hours, starting at dawn, and aims to target the Central administration's decision as well as the State government's handling of the matter. Organisers point out that the Union notification places roughly 76,000 hectares across eight local villages under strict rules without factoring in the survival needs of people living there. Key trading and housing hubs like Kulathupuzha and Channappetta face serious threats to their traditional way of life and long-term farming efforts.

Protests Planned

Groups spearheading the agitation have blamed the State administration for ignoring local voices while asking the Centre to drop 33 other villages in the state from the draft. They argue that authorities acted behind closed doors by not holding talks with farm unions or calling a special Assembly meeting to debate the boundary maps. Before the upcoming strike, protesters will hold torch rallies across all impacted wards on October 24 and 25. On the strike day itself, residents will stage sit-in demonstrations throughout the affected villages to challenge the ongoing neglect by both federal and state officials.

Context

Ecologically sensitive zone rules typically aim to protect fragile natural habitats and wildlife corridors by restricting certain commercial activities and construction. However, such classifications often spark friction between conservation goals and the economic security of local agrarian communities who depend on forest-adjacent lands for their livelihoods.