Families affected by alleged pollution in Ambalamugal to further intensify their months-long protest

Families sandwiched in a strip of land between two major public sector units in Ayyankuzhi near Ambalamugal are set to further intensify their more than month-long protest after they alleged further deterioration in the all-round pollution with the onset of chilly December making their already difficult lives even worse.

Around 23 families in ward 16 of the Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat remained affected for decades by the alleged pollution by the plants of the Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd (HOCL) and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). They laid siege to the road at Ambalamugal on Friday (December 12) evening protesting against what they complained as breathlessness and nausea caused by pollution. The protest was eventually called off after the Ambalamedu police promised to mediate with the companies this week.

“We were returning after our daily protests when thick layers of smoke descended completely hampering the visibility make it tough for us to drive through. Accompanying it was a pungent smell following which I felt dizzy and almost fell unconscious. There was also this unbearable sound from a newly installed plant. It has become impossible to live in this toxic atmosphere any longer,” said Sindhu Surendran, one of the residents in the area.

The affected families have been demanding that their land, around 9.4 acres, be acquired and freed of their hardships. Out of the 44 families in the area, only 23 remain now.

The majority of the people in the area have been diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among other respiratory ailments during a medical camp held last year. They had engaged in a legal fight in the High Court while the National Green Tribunal also remains seized of the matter. 

The families organised under the Ayyankuzhi Janakeeya Samithi had been on protest path for the last 33 days. On every day, they take out a torch light protest to the gates of the both companies while every week a prominent personality address the protestorst.

“We are even thinking of sealing off the only road passing through our area, which will affect the access to both the companies. The Samithi will decide on further intensifying the protest on Sunday,” said Ms. Surendran.

Saji Kumar, joint secretary of the Samithi, said that the executive committee will take a decision on the future course of action based on which a public meeting will be held. “We had originally planned to hold the ongoing protest for 30 days but have now been forced to extend it further. The pollution caused by smoke gets particularly worse during chilly atmosphere as it remains suspended in the air. We are literally walled in with only a sole access point,” he said.

BPCL-Kochi Refinery sources denied having any pollutant plant in the immediate neighbourhood of Ayyankuzhi though they admitted that the larger campus with a perimeter running into 30km to 40km may have various facilities, including plants. They alleged that a narrative is being created for the acquisition of land for real estate purposes. HOCL sources could not be reached for their response.