Panel seeks to stop Munnar constructions

Thiruvananthapuram: The Assembly Committee on Environment headed by CPI MLA Mullakkara Ratnakaran has recommended the immediate cessation of all non-domestic construction activities in Munnar for six months till the formation of an Environment Protection Development Authority. Once the Authority is established, it will ensure that any commercial or industrial activity in Munnar would be carried out in such a way that the region’s fragile ecology is left undisturbed.

The Committee, whose report was tabled in the Assembly on Monday, has further recommended the express shut down of all existing three-storey buildings in Munnar. If work on any three-storey building is currently on in the region, it should be stopped forthwith. “An order clamping restrictions on the height of buildings was first issued by the Wayanad district collector two years ago. We have been told that it is legally binding,” said Mullakkara Ratnakaran, the chairman of the environment committee. He said revenue authorities could summon all powers at their command to regulate construction in Munnar.

Along with representatives of government departments and agencies, the proposed Authority should have environment science experts, and representatives from institutions dealing with ecology, geology and climate. The Committee said that Munnar should be considered separate from the rest of the state, and protected as a special zone for which more stringent building rules should be framed urgently. The Authority has to come out with a new set of building rules for Munnar within one month of its formation.