Kollam: 240-year-old church, school under threat

KOLLAM: The parishioners of the 240-year-old St. Andrews church at  Kovilthottam,  Chavara,  have protested  against the official apathy in protecting their heritage land, including a 115-year-old LP school and cemetery. The authorities, including revenue officials, are helping  a contractor who transports raw sand to IRE along the church property despite a High Court order, they allege. The parishioners will conduct a march towards the Chavara village office by 9  a.m. on Saturday.  The area is also affected by the pollution from the nearby KMML and IRE.  Out of  400 families who lived in the area, only four are left owing to environmental hazards posed by the black sand industry.

“A contractor who is licensed to transport raw sand from Vellanathuruthu to the IRE along the national highway has found a shortcut along the Kovilthottam coastal area, trespassing the property associated with the church. He was doing this without the church’s permission.  The contractor influenced the authorities, including the revenue and police officials, and filed a petition with the High Court by forging documents to claim that the land there does not belong to the church. However, the HC ruling was in favour of the church,” said Mr Michael Valentine, parishioner.

Deep mining for raw sand up to 35 metres in depth near the church compound has also weakened the church, cemetery and the school nearby.  It is an attempt by the KMML and the IRE to take over the land owned by the church, he alleged. The protesters also allege that several false cases have  been registered against the governing body members of the church for standing up against the contractor. The protesters have also demanded construction of sea wall to protect the church property, filling up of deep pits created by mining raw sand and the implementation of rehabilitation packages announced by the KMML and IRE.