KANNUR: The construction of the venue of the CPM party congress went on without a halt even as the people got troubled amid the national strike. In the area, all institutions were closed and vehicles were blocked in the name of the strike. However, construction works went on without any halt at the Nayanar Academy, the main venue of the party congress. The works at the police ground, for the first anniversary celebrations of the second Pinarayi government, also went without any hitch on Monday.
The migrant labourers, who work at the Nayanar Academy, reside there itself. The construction of the main venue’s roof was completed earlier. The ground work for the installation of chairs was done last day. Busy work was also spotted at the Collectorate ground, where the historical sculpture exhibition and the international book festival are being held, as part of the party congress.
CPM Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan has come forward with an explanation of the incident. No extensive work was carried out. All major works had already been complete, Jayarajan said.
The only work left was the arrangement of the chairs at the venue. North Indian workers have been staying there for months. Other than that, no work was carried out on the day of the strike, he explained.
The party congress will be held from April 6 to 10. The cantonment had issued a stop memo stating that the construction work at the main venue, Nayanar Academy, had violated the Coastal Management Act and building codes. As a result, the works had been halted for days.
The permission to resume works was granted only two days ago, following an explanation. With this, the organizers were in a hurry to finish works within a few days.