Kerala Villagers Resume Protest Against Poultry Waste Plant, Vow to Block Entry

Residents of Ambayathode near Thamarassery in Kerala's Kozhikode district resumed their protest on Friday against the Freshcut poultry waste rendering unit, days after the Kerala High Court stayed the State Pollution Control Board's order to shut the factory.

The local action committee, leading the agitation, declared that waste-laden lorries would not be allowed to enter the factory premises and that the management would not be permitted to resume operations in the face of public opposition.

Expressing solidarity with the residents, Koduvally MLA P.K. Firoz and Thiruvambady MLA C.K. Kasim said any attempt to restart the unit ignoring environmental concerns would be contested legally. They reiterated that no waste-laden vehicles would be allowed into the area amid the intensified protest.

Chief patron of the action committee, Thampi Parakandathil, said legal steps would be initiated soon to vacate the High Court stay on the Pollution Control Board's closure order.

Meanwhile, Revenue department sources said the District Collector and PCB officials would submit a comprehensive joint inspection report on the factory's functioning and public complaints, following the High Court's latest directions.

The waste treatment facility, operational since 2014, has been embroiled in controversy for over five years. Residents of Kattippara, Ambayathode and neighbouring areas have repeatedly alleged that the plant emits foul odour, contaminates water sources and poses a risk to public health.

The issue gained State-wide attention last year when protests turned violent, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police. Several police personnel and protesters were injured, while the plant and vehicles on its premises were damaged.