MALAPPURAM: The revenue department on Friday started releasing water from a private check-dam constructed in the land of C.K. Abdul Latheef, father-in-law of P.V. Anwar MLA, at Cheenkannipali near Vettilappara here.
This was being done on the basis of an order from the High Court. The check-dam was the source of water for the water theme park of Anwar. Malappuram district collector Amit Meena was present when the water from the check-dam was released. Vettilappara village officer also monitored the activity.
There were reports that the check-dam posed a threat to the life of tribal people living at the lower reaches.
It may be recalled that the court in December last had stayed the collector’s order to demolish the check-dam allegedly built flouting rules at Cheenkannipali on the Kakkadampoyil hills. The stay was granted on a writ petition filed by Abdul Latheef seeking to stop all further proceedings.
According to Latheef, who owned eight acres of land in survey number two in Vettilappara village in Eranadu taluk, the water source was wrongly described as a Thadayana (check dam). It was a pond that existed from time immemorial and over the years it was filled with soil and mud due to the peculiar terrain of the property. In 2015, it was decided to revive the pond for the purpose of the water theme park, he said in his affidavit submitted to the court.
