Mangroves Theme Park reopened for public

KANNUR: Celebrating its victory in the first round of the court battle to retain the controversial Mangroves Theme Park on the banks of the Valapattanam River, the CPM-sponsored Pappinissery Ecotourism Society opened the park to the public on Sunday morning.

   The park was opened on the strength of the stay order granted by the High Court against the directive of the Union Ministry of Environment to close it down.

It was CPM heavy weight and main architect of the park E P Jayarajan who reopened the park, inaugurating what the park authorities called “Mangroves Study and Research Centre” functioning at the park. Jayarajan, who performed his job planting mangrove saplings at the park, alleged that it was a band of pseudo-intellectuals and environmental fanatics who were working against the park designed to protect mangroves. “Nobody can say that the mangroves park did any harm to anyone. A land mafia and anti-development lobby in the district are working against the park,” he said.Addressing the function, CPM district secretary P Sasi alleged that Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh had violated his oath as minister by his statements and actions relating to the park.

He  said that a lobby against development in the district was behind the stir against the theme park.