Kozhikode: Residents of 40 families of Chomathuparambu in Nadakkavu were up in arms against the encroachment of corporation land allegedly by private parties. They alleged that the 16 cent area of Corporation land was illegally possessed by persons to construct a high-rise building with scant regard to the law.
“An RTI enquiry revealed that the said land was owned by Kozhikode city Corporation. But the land tax is being paid by a private person. It is in a prime area of the city where the market value is about Rs 20 lakh per cent,” said C. Prashant Kumar, convenor of the action committee formed by the Chomathuparambu residents. He alleged that though the previous Mayor had promised to repossesses the land within a week, nothing materialized. “Corporation officials are favouring the encroachers who have connections with the real estate mafia,” added Prashant Kumar.
K.P Vijayakumar, chairman of the action committee, said that the encroachers had blocked the path which the locals had been using since many years. “We resisted their move twice by mobilizing people. This time, they came in the wee hours and blocked the way. Waste materials also were dumped there,” he pointed out. Significantly, the survey by the revenue department and the Corporation had proved that the prime land belonged to the Corporation.
A vigilance inquiry is going on into the alleged encroachment, according to the action committee. Mr Vijayakumar alleged that the local committees of political parties were reluctant to support the protest against the bigwigs. “We will continue the protest till the land is restored,” he said.
