The vehicle procession taken out by Doha-based Kerala expatriates at Chapath yesterday in Kerala’s Idukki district to press for the construction of a new dam. Below: Participants march to the site of a relay protest
About 600 present and former Qatar residents took out a vehicle rally in Kerala yesterday to press for the construction of a new dam to replace the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam which is at the centre of a controversy between Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu state.
The vehicles converged on Chapath in Kerala’s eastern district of Idukki where a relay protest has been going on for more than 1,800 days in support of the demand for a new dam. Many Keralites believe the present dam poses a threat to the lives of some 3.5mn people in five districts.
The rally, spearheaded by expatriate group Kottayam District Arts and Cultural Association, had participants representing about 40 other forums of Keralites based in Qatar. Most participants were on vacation in their native state, and many were joined by their family members. 
Among the associations taking part were the newly constituted Natives Espousing Welfare of Districts Affected by Mullaperiyar (New Dam) consisting of Qatar residents from five Kerala districts, Indian Cultural and Arts Society (Incas Qatar), Sanskriti, Bhavan’s Cultural Centre, Friends of Thrissur, Friends of Thiruvalla, Unity of Pala and Kaduthuruthy Residents, Kannur United Welfare Association of Qatar, Kerala Social and Cultural Association,  Palakkadan Nattarangu, Idukki District Expatriates Association,  Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, and South Kerala Islamic Association Qatar.
The procession of more than 70 vehicles was flagged off at Chotty, near Mundakayam in Kottayam district, by Circle Inspector A Sunil Kumar. It took more than three hours to reach the site of the protest as the participants were greeted by cheering supporters at many places along the 55km route.
Talking to Gulf Times from Kerala, Incas Qatar president Joppachan Thekkekutu said the aim of the rally was to express solidarity with the leaders at the relay protest and also to raise awareness among Gulf expatriates about the threat posed by the dam to the five districts of Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha.
Besides Thekkekkuttu, George Joseph, James George, James Ayrookuzhy, and E M Siyad addressed the rally.
Fr Joy Nirappel and C P Roy, who have been at the relay protest for several months, thanked the Keralite community in Qatar for its “unprecedented show of support”.
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