On 14th August 2024, a bunch of Ibn Al-Haytham’s enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students paid a visit to Avikkal Thodu, Calicut. The place has recently been a hotspot for environmental protests.
Avikkal Thodu, situated in the Calicut district of Kerala has been the site for a proposed Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). However, the project has been halted due to drastic public outrage and High Court interventions. The project raised major environmental concerns and our scholars were keen enough to visit the protest site and study the impacts of the proposed project on the public and the influence of the ongoing outrage against the same.
Avikkal Thodu is infamous for its surge of mosquito-borne and other water-borne diseases during every monsoon. Although the polluted water body raises multiple concerns, the residents of the place largely oppose the implementation of an STP for fear of increased flooding risks and other impacts on the livelihood of the local fishing community.
Our second-year degree students, Farzana Fathima and Zenha Feroz, along with postgraduate student Suhana Salah, conducted a field study at the protest site of the Sewage Treatment Plant at Avikkal Thodu, near the renowned beach of Calicut city.
Says Suhana, our final year MSc Counselling Psychology student,
“We went to the heart of Kozhikode, a city known for its beautiful beaches. But beyond the tourist spots lies a neighbourhood called Avikkal Thodu, where life is not as bright. This coastal area is home to a close-knit community of fishermen who face tough challenges every day. They lack basic facilities like proper housing and clean toilets, which feels unfair compared to the nice beaches nearby.
Life got even harder for the people of Avikkal Thodu when local officials planned to build a sewage treatment plant in their area. This project, meant to help public health, could make their living conditions worse. Many of the residents have limited education, but they came together to protect their rights. They organized protests and spoke up to local leaders, showing a strong will to fight for their community.
During our visit, we met many locals who were at first shy to talk to strangers. But, with patience, we learned about their daily struggles, hopes, and fears. It was clear they are proud of their community but worried about the future.
For now, the government has paused the sewage plant project, but the fight is not over. Legal issues from the protests are still ongoing, and the problem of waste disposal remains unsolved.
Visiting Avikkal Thodu was eye-opening. It reminded us of the big inequalities in society and the importance of helping marginalized communities have their voices heard”.
Amid the stunning colours of the Calicut city and its legacy, the waste-filled Avikkal Thodu area presents a stark contrast to the city’s face. The residents’ three-year long protests against the STP had been quite historical and eventful. And it finally saw success as the Kozhikode Corporation decided to relocate the Sewage Treatment Plant from the place.
