Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has to take a call on the fate of Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, who has been found to have violated provisions of Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act 2008 to facilitate access to Lake Palace, which he owns, in Alappuzha. District collector T. V. Anupama, who filed the indicting report, has also called for Kerala State Remote Sensing and Environment Centre report to prosecute the occupier for violations. Water World Tourism Company, where Mr Chandy is a major stakeholder, owns Lake Palace.
Paddy land conversion is the main charge against Mr Chandy, though his company and kin illegally retain property assigned for public purposes. Sources said Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) P.H. Kurien, who is also convinced of the paddy conversion, would await a decision from the CM than venture a typical bureaucratic decision, which might drag the Government into litigation. Mr Chandy has already questioned the legality of the Collector’s report, citing an ongoing case. He has even threatened contempt.
