KOCHI: The ripples of the Mullaperiyar dam issue gained momentum in Kochi, as various political and non-political organisations came out in open protest demanding immediate solution to the problem.The All-Kerala Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) asked the Central Government to intervene and amicably solve the problems between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The AIBEA announced that it will observe December 5 (Monday) as Mullaperiyar Day. The office-bearers of AIBEA said they will organise protest marches across the state on Monday. The Human Rights Foundations (HRF), has demanded that the construction of the new dam should begin soon and the water level be reduced to 120 feet.The HRF also organised a signature campaign to be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights.The Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Kalamassery block committee organised a ‘Jeevanraksha’ march demanding speedy construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar. They stated that Tamil Nadu should change its stance since Kerala has agreed to provide water under any circumstance. The children of Child Line, a project of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, came out with placards and slogans expressing concern over the Mullaperiyar issue at the Marine Drive.The procession which saw the participation of at least 50 students demanded the government to take required steps before the Mullaperiyar dam broke. Farsana, an eighth standard student said: “We are participating in the procession because we are worried about our lives. Our mentors have told us about the seriousness of the issue.”Placards with messages like “Save us from the Mullaperiyar dam”, “Decommission the dam”, “Don’t you see our bleeding hearts?” were held by the children as they shouted slogans too.Fr Gilton of Childine said: “We receive worried calls daily from children especially from Paravoor and adjacent areas asking us whether the dam would break and if they (the children) would die. We decided to come out and strongly address the issue.”The Magic Society expressed solidarity on the Mullaperiyar issue by staging a magic show at the High Court Junction. Through the show, Magician Mayan Vaidyar Shah showed what would happen once the Mullaperiyar dam broke. He also performed a magic that provided the solution to the problem. “It is necessary that a solution be found by the governments for the people who are extremely worried about the impending disaster from the Mullaperiyar dam,” he said. As part of this, the magic society will hold a special programme at Mullaperiyar this week.
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