THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the Silver Line project was frozen due to collective opposition, the yellow stones on private land continue to create trouble for the people. The sale and purchase of stone-laid land has become a crisis. Banks are not lending money and there is no permission for construction either. The cases against more than a thousand people who protested against the project have not been withdrawn yet.

6737 yellow stones were laid in 11 districts. More than 250 cases were registered against those who protested against it. Even though the High Court verbally said that the people would be relieved if the cases are withdrawn, the government did not listen. The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that withdrawing the cases was not under consideration.

The Centre has not sanctioned the project. The central proposal is to change the DPR of the project into double lines. People arrested in cases of destruction of public property shall be required to furnish bail in an amount equal to the value of the public property destroyed. Yellow stones will be charged up to 5000 rupees. 200 people have received summons so far. Five people who approached the court for bail in Angamaly were granted bail after giving a bail amount of Rs 25,000. Many people have received notices to pay a fine ranging from 5000 to 10,000. The state police is of the position that the Supreme Court has ordered that cases of destruction of public property cannot be withdrawn.

The registrar of cooperatives had directed the banks and unions not to deny loans on the ground of conducting the survey. However, nationalized banks have not received such instructions from the Bankers' Council. Local bodies may not give permission for constructions on the land until the project is abandoned and an order is issued. The government is dismissing the issue by saying that the notification was not for land acquisition but for survey.

Cost of laying 6737 yellow stones: ₹1.48 crore

The plan was to lay 24,000 yellow stones

"Silverline is not abandonable. Other steps will be taken after getting the central approval.

- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

(Said in the Assembly)