Opposition for probe on Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University land acquisition
MALAPPURAM: Protests against the land acquisition for the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University in Tirur alleging corruption have gained momentum. The opposition parties are set to approach the government seeking a detailed probe into the alleged scam. Shunning a report by an expert team which inspected and endorsed the identified 17-acre land at Mangattiri in Vettom panchayat, they allege serious irregularities and nepotism on the part of the government.
Tirur MLA C. Mammootty has approached the revenue department against the government’s move to acquire the land which is according to him not ideal for setting up the campus and constructing buildings. The protests led by Indian Union Muslim League and Congress had upped the ante against the acquisition move months ago after a section of people offered another piece of land at a lesser amount. They alleged that the finalised land area is ecologically fragile. It has acres of wetland and mangrove forests.
They also allege disproportionately high valuation in favour of nine land dealers who have connections with Tanur MLA and a local businessman who contested last assembly elections as an LDF candidate. The district collector Amit Meena, who was entrusted with the task of purchasing, had submitted a report to the government after setting the value at '1.6 lakh a cent through a renegotiation in February. The government is yet to give its final nod.
The Youth Congress state secretary Sidhiq Panthavoor, who is at the forefront of the protests, said he would lodge a complaint with legislative committee on environment against the land acquisition. “The government would have to spend an enormous amount of money to fill the ecologically significant land for the constructions. This would harm the environment,” he said. The Youth Congress state secretary had earlier approached the governor seeking a probe into the deal.
VC wants panel formed to check allegations
The Malayalam University vice-chancellor K. Jayakumar on Tuesday asked the government to form a panel consisting revenue, environment and public works experts for the inspection of land identified to set up its permanent campus before going ahead with the acquisition. “The final decision should be based on the recommendations of this panel. Any further move without considering this would tarnish the image of the University,” he said in a letter to the higher education secretary.
“The technical committee appointed by the government had inspected two lands offered to the varsity and recommended the land in Mangattiri for the campus,” he said. “The government was set to decide further proceedings based on this. However, in the wake of local protests against the move it is necessary that the government should ward off all the concerns raised by various parties.”
