THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Serious questions are being raised about the district disaster management authority's much-hyped Operation Anantha drive launched to address recurring flooding at Thampanoor and East Fort. It appears that when it comes to the rich and influential, the law takes a U-turn.
The disaster management authority seems to be in a bind, struggling to take a decision on taking on the prime property of business bigwig Biju Ramesh while hundreds of residential structures were ruthlessly knocked down.
The final round of hearing continued on the second consecutive day on Tuesday but failed to take a final decision.
The five-storey beer and wine parlour continues to stand on Thekkanamkara canal putting the officials in a jam. The additional district magistrate V R Vinod, the chairman in-charge of the district disaster management authority, said that the hearing would continue on Wednesday.
Mr Biju Ramesh, who did not turn up for the hearing on Monday, did not show up on Tuesday also. Sources said that Biju Ramesh’s lawyers appeared for the hearing, however.
“We will continue the hearing tomorrow and we will be bringing in the Vanchiyoor village officer who reported on the Park Rajadhani encroachment tomorrow. Probably in two to three days we would be able to come out with a final decision,” said ADM V R Vinod.
Mr Biju Ramesh had sought more time for carrying out the joint inspection of the structure, however the authorities refused to grant him more time.
