MALAPPURAM: The district disaster management authority headed by district collector Amit Meena on Monday ordered the demolition of a check dam illegally built at Cheenkannipali on Kakkadampoyil hills by a company partly owned by Mr P.V. Anwar MLA. The dam is part of the controversial park owned by the same company which is at the centre of a storm for the last few months for alleged constructions in the environmentally fragile area. The collector asked the land owner to demolish the illegal construction within two weeks, failing which the irrigation department will execute the order and realise the expenses from the land owner.
A notice sent by the authority to the Vettilappara village authorities will be served on the land owners. The collector's order came after a report by the Perinthalmanna RDO K. Ajeesh on Friday saying that the construction was illegal. The report was based on a joint inspection carried out by the officers from the departments of geology, revenue, Kerala Water Authority and public works at Cheenkannipali in Kakkadampoyil where the dam, a water theme park and road were constructed allegedly flouting rules. The joint team found that the constructions were illegal, unscientific and may cause natural disaster. The inspection was carried out on October 24 following an order from the district collector after he found earlier reports unsatisfactory.
The demolition order was finalised based on the report at a meeting of officials from the departments convened by the collector on Monday. In March, the collected had ordered the demolition of the check dam and asked the revenue officials to assess the possibilities of the demolition. However, the land owners went ahead with the construction of boating facility in the dam despite the order. The land owners had also neglected a warning report by the Nilambur north divisional forest officer.
