THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lok Ayukta has ordered to take over 12.279 cents of land illegally possessed by the private builder at Pattoor, while further hearing will be held on the rights of over four more cents allegedly possessed by the builder.
Considering the case on Monday, the Lok Ayukta directed the district collector to take over the 12.279 cents of canal puramboke, as the builders also admitted that the land was in excess of what they owned. The Lok Ayukta directed the builders, Artech Developers, to cooperate with the taking over of the land.
The puramboke land is being taken over as per the report of the Lok Ayukta-appointed advocate commissioner Abhijith. The land should be taken over before April 15 and separated from the property being possessed by the builder, said the order issued by Lok Ayukta Justice Pius C. Kuriakose and Upa Lok Ayukta Justice K.P. Balachandran.
Though the advocate commission had reported that about 16.35 cents of excess land was illegally possessed by the builder, the counsel for the builder, Abdul Kareem, maintained that only 12.279 cents of land of the western end of the plot was possessed by them. Hence further hearing would be held on the four cents on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sources said that the builders had obtained permission for construction of the apartment complex and a shopping mall by citing the land, including the 16.35 disputed land.
Hence, if the entire 16.35 cents are found to be illegal, it may even affect the sanctions given to the building. However, counsel for the builders denied this.
Public worker Joy Kaitharam had filed the petition at Lok Ayukta alleging encroachments.
