The Anti-K-Rail SilverLine People’s Struggle Committee has called on Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to issue an order withdrawing the SilverLine rail project.

It had been seven years since the previous Left Democratic Front government began laying marker stones on land identified for acquisition from individuals across the State, instilling fear among the people. Strong public protests, however, stalled the project. Despite this, the LDF government did not accept people’s demand to roll it back, the committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

The government was backing a project that threatened to destroy the environment and lead to large-scale displacement of people. The plan was to borrow crores for a project that was intended for the well-off people. The SilverLine detailed project report was a hastily prepared and impractical document and did not get the Union government’s nod. Offices set up in 11 districts for SilverLine were wound up and staff redeployed.

The committee claimed that it had through RTI managed to get a letter sent by the LDF government to the Union government in which it said that the project could not be implemented by taking into consideration issues raised by the committee, environmental and social activists.

The parties and leaders who stood with the committee during its protests were now part of the UDF government. Mr. Satheesan who had understood the anguish of the people should withdraw the project, committee chairperson M.P. Baburaj said in the statement.

Mr. Satheesan had said ahead of the Assembly elections that the UDF would de-notify the land acquired for SilverLine if voted to power.