A dawn-to-dusk hartal was observed in Pariyaram village in Thrissur district on Saturday over the proposed inclusion of the village in the ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) category, with residents and political groups opposing the extent of the draft coverage.
The hartal was called by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and received support from people across various sections of the village, according to the party. The protest places the focus on a boundary dispute that could affect how land and development-related decisions are applied in Pariyaram if the proposed ESA classification advances in its current form.
Eugene Moreli, RJD state general secretary, said the Centre’s draft list included the entire village in the ESA category. Moreli also said the state government had sought changes to the proposal, but the list submitted by the state government to the Centre continued to include a portion of the village known as Kumbalan Mudi.
The disagreement is therefore not limited to whether Pariyaram appears in the proposed ESA framework. It also concerns the extent of the area covered by the state’s submission and how the surrounding buffer zone could affect residents beyond the specifically listed location.
Moreli said the state list includes Kumbalan Mudi, while warning that the impact could extend across the entire village if the buffer zone is taken into account. The statement indicates that the final effect on Pariyaram will depend not only on the listed area but also on the way the buffer zone is defined and applied.
The protest’s broad local support, as described by the RJD, highlights the importance of clear boundary information in environmental planning. For residents, the distinction between the Centre’s draft list, the changes sought by the state government and the state’s submission is central to understanding which areas may be covered.
The report does not establish that a final ESA notification covering the entire village has been issued. It records an ongoing proposal and a difference between the Centre’s draft and the state government’s position. Further clarity will depend on the formal list considered by the authorities and the treatment of the buffer zone around Kumbalan Mudi.
The RJD said the hartal’s success reflected public support beyond the party’s organisational network. No separate official response from the Centre or the state government was provided in the report. The next relevant step is the government process for considering the proposed ESA boundaries and the changes sought by Kerala.
