Greens raise concern over proposed amphitheatre and playground construction at Cusat School of Engineering campus

Kochi: Environmentalists have raised alarm over the proposed plan to construct an amphitheatre and playground at Cusat School of Engineering (SoE) campus. The Cochin Natural History Society, an NGO, has written to the Cusat vice-chancellor, registrar and SoE principal, urging them to withdraw from the proposed plan.

The letter cited ecological destruction and violations of earlier commitments to environmental conservation. According to the letter, a decision by the school council in March and a syndicate resolution dated April 26 decided to proceed with the project. The NGO expressed shock and disappointment at what it described as the destruction of a flourishing tree cover that was painstakingly developed by the SoE community in 2019.

"If a new stadium or playground is absolutely necessary, this can easily be constructed without disturbing the tree cover of the campus where such tree planting has been undertaken with or without agreement with the forest department and other institutions like KFRI, Haritha Keralam Mission, etc. There are still areas on the campus that lack tree cover, which can be repurposed for the project," stated the letter.

According to organisation secretary Vishnu Priyan Kartha, approximately 1,700 saplings of 137 species were planted on the campus, many sourced from reputed institutions like Oushadhi, Kerala Agricultural University and Kerala Forest Research Institute. "This project earned Cusat accolades and recognition in international green rankings," said Kartha.

The proposed construction, Kartha claimed, would not only wipe out this biodiversity but also destroy vital infrastructure like the fire and safety training ground and risk flooding by obstructing natural drainage paths. He also raised safety concerns regarding nearby high-tension power lines.

Labeling the plan as ‘Tughlaqian', the letter urged Cusat to abandon the development and explore alternative locations within the 180-acre campus that do not compromise existing greenery.