KOCHI: The Integrated Rural Technology Center (IRTC), a research institute of the Parishad, has come forward against the study report of the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad that the Silverline project will lead to serious environmental impact. Prof Dr. J Sundaresan Pillai, head of Palakkad Mundur-based IRTC, told Kerala Kaumudi that the study was not scientific, prejudiced and the methods used for data collection were not correct. It was also stated that Silverline is essential for the development of transport in the state.

There is a flaw in the methodology of the study. He said that the Parishad office-bearers did not share the research data with them even though it was indicated in the beginning that there was a high possibility of error in the final result.

IRTC has 10 departments related to scientific research including Geo-Informatics Center (GIS) and Natural Resource Management. These are of critical importance in environmental impact studies. IRTC was not involved in anything related to the Silverline study, other than seeking the assistance of the head of GIS in the classification and analysis of data collected through the survey.

Also, the Parishad did not accept the services of prominent scientists with long research experience working in association with the institution. There were serious flaws in the methods used for data collection, human resources, data collection, and analysis.

The study report, which is of no use, should be completely discarded. The Silverline survey was conducted by untrained parishad workers. False conclusions lead to alarming figures for Silverline.

Certain groups with vested interests are the ones that take important decisions in the Parishad. Democracy and intellectual thinking are being lost in the organization, Sundaresan Pillai said.