Kerala High Court stays Methran Kayal reclamation

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the state to maintain status quo on the government order allowing a private firm to reclaim 420 acres of wetland of Methran Kayal in Kumarakom for tourism purposes. Justice A. Muhammed Mustaque issued the order on a plea by N. K. Alexander of Kochi against the government order.

The petitioner argued that Methran Kayal is an enlisted Ramsar site and a protected wetland under the Schedule of Wetland Conservation Rules 2010. Portrayed as an ecotourism the project is, in fact, an ultra luxury sail-in five-star hotel. Reclamation of the Methran Kayal is strictly restricted by the Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act, 2008.

The petitioner argued that the government passed the order without applying mind. He and other farmers had been cultivating paddy on their land there till 2008 when the project was proposed. Since then, the land had been lying fallow and waterlogged.

Though several representations were made to the authorities concerned, no action was taken to resume paddy cultivation and, in a surprise move, the government had issued the order granting sanction to the company to start an ecotourism project. The project proposed by the firm would affect the ecology of the entire area.