Kottayam: The vigilance court here on Thursday ordered the Vigilance to register a First Information Report against former transport minister Thomas Chandy in connection with the construction of a road to his Lake Palace resort in Alappuzha by allegedly reclaiming paddyland. The order was based on the recommendation of vigilance SP M. Johnson Joseph.
The vigilance court charged Mr Chandy with violation of the wetland protection and conservation Act and conspiracy. According to the Act, the paddyfield cannot be reclaimed without the permission of the state and the district-level paddy field protection committees after 2008.
The court will consider the case again on January 18. The Vigilance found irregularities in the construction of the road from Valiyakulam to Zero Jetty near the resort and recommended registration of cases against Mr Chandy and other officials.
Earlier, the Vigilance director had returned a Vigilance probe report and asked it to record the statement of the district collectors and other officials concerned clarifying on the place where the road was constructed. The latest recommendation is based on the fresh report submitted by the vigilance.
