CPI(M) back in familiar opposition role, questions Satheesan's zoo relocation plan

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17
The CPI(M) in Kerala has moved swiftly to oppose Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's proposal to relocate the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo to a forested setting, with senior party leader and former mayor V.K. Prasanth questioning the rationale behind the move and alleging that commercial interests could be driving the plan.

Prasanth alleged that the proposal was driven by commercial interests and wondered whether the prime 36-acre property in the heart of the capital was being eyed for handover to private business interests.

He also questioned why such a move was being taken without consulting the people.

The quick reaction has placed the CPI(M) in familiar territory, opposing a major initiative floated by a Congress-led government, even before the idea has moved beyond the discussion stage.

Kerala's political history is replete with examples of projects that faced resistance depending on which political front championed them. Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy often remarked that in Kerala, the identity of the proposer frequently mattered more than the proposal itself.

Chandy had himself faced strong Left opposition after introducing computers in the Finance Department in 1991 while serving as Finance Minister. He later pointed to the irony that several Left leaders who had opposed computerisation eventually embraced the technology.

Similarly, the Kochi Smart City project encountered stiff resistance from the Left when it was pursued by the UDF government, only to be carried forward later under the LDF administration. Several infrastructure projects in the state have witnessed comparable political reversals over the years.

Satheesan unveiled the zoo relocation proposal during the three-day 'Reimagining Keralam' forum on Wednesday. He suggested shifting the zoo towards the Neyyar forest region, arguing that the animals could live in surroundings closer to their natural habitat.

The Chief Minister also proposed converting the valuable city-centre land into a major public space modelled on world-class urban recreational hubs.

Highlighting the zoo's significance, Prasanth noted that it attracts over 1.2 million visitors annually and generates around Rs 8 crore in revenue.

Interestingly, BJP Mayor V.V. Rajesh welcomed the proposal and suggested that the Central Jail, another major government property located in the city centre, could also be shifted to a rural area.

For now, the zoo remains where it is. But the political battle over its future has already begun.