THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While small encroachments are being removed ruthlessly, the district administration is turning a blind eye to similar violations by influential groups in the heart of the city.
A leading four-star hotel near Model School Jn, which was constructed very recently, has flouted quite a few norms by encroaching on a portion of the Amayizhanchan Canal, which is a highly polluted and clogged water-body that causes flooding at Thampanoor and East Fort region.
However, the much talked about ‘Operation Flood’ – the intensive eviction drive launched by Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson - has conveniently ignored this and is going after small urban settlements at Karimadom Colony and adjoining areas.
Several residential structures were knocked down by the authorities without a showcause notice, whereas the powerful sections of the disaster management act was not applied to the influential business class.
When asked about this, Collector Biju Prabhakar- who is leading the eviction drive told DC that the administration had served notice to the management.
“We have identified this issue and have served a notice on them. We will be looking into the criticality of the violation and take necessary action very soon,” said Mr Prabhakar. He said that several other encroachments in the region which were found critical were removed as part of the drive.
On Tuesday, the authorities cleared more encroachments at Karimadom Colony and Pazhavangadi region.
According to officials, as many as 15 residential structures were partially or fully demolished to unearth the age-old drain and as many as 10 commercial structures behind the Homeopathy Hospital at Pazhavangadi were demolished.
“We have initiated dredging and the plan is to deepen the drain by 10 ft. The drain is around 1.2 km and it meets at Amayizhanchan canal near the Putharikandam Maidan. We have to knock down two more structures at Karimadom colony and except for those, all encroachments have been cleared,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the Pazhavangadi temple office which was constructed over the drain was untouched by the revenue authorities. “We are planning to link the drain without demolishing the office of the temple which belongs to the army. We need clearance from them and the plan will be finalised only after the dredging process,” said the official.
