Action if charges are true, says Chandrasekharan

Thiruvananthapuram/Malappuram: Revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan has said that action would be taken if there is substance in the allegations of land encroachment against minister Thomas Chandy and Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar.

The government has demanded reports from Alapuzha and Malappuram district collectors on the allegations, he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram adding that the government had an open mind on the issue. “However, the government has already received a preliminary report on the allegations,” he said.

It is alleged that Mr Chandy encroached wetlands on the banks of the backwaters in Alappuzha district for the construction of a resort and Mr Anvar allegedly encroached land for the water theme park he set up at Kakkadampoyil in Malappuram district.

Meanwhile, revenue authorities in Malappuram will soon examine the complaints regarding the alleged violations of rules by Mr Anwar in the construction of his water theme park in the ecologically sensitive Kakkadampoyil. A public hearing will be held on Thursday at the chamber of Perinthalmanna sub collector to collect the details of present status of the construction activities and verifying documents. Forest, police, irrigation and revenue officials are expected to attend the hearing besides complainants and local residents including tribal people.

“The hearing is being conducted to verify if there is the flouting of rules in the region before going forward with further actions,” deputy collector Dr. J.O. Arun, who is in charge of Perinthalmanna sub-collector, said.  It was built by the land owner who is close to the MLA by digging large area of forest land and blocking natural flow of streams. “If we found that the constructions are illegal, the district collector can formally issue an order to demolish the check-dam,” Dr. Arun said.

In an order issued in March, the district collector had directed the sub-collector to consider the possibility of demolishing the check-dam following reports of the alleged illegal construction in the ecologically fragile area. But it was not an order to demolish the dam, he clarified.