Green rules set to tighten noose around Transport Minister Thomas Chandy
Alappuzha: Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, who is in the eye of a storm over illegal constructions for his Lake Palace resort, will find it difficult to legally challenge the collector’s preliminary report finding evidence of wetland encroachment by him. The collector has powers to take action against the violations of Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act 2008, which prescribes stiff penalty for the guilty. District collector T.V. Anupama is acting under sub-section 3 of section 3 of the Act and has issued notices for hearing the local people.
The preliminary report was prepared by the collector after inspecting the paddyland situated within the jurisdiction of the district- level authorised committee or the collector. “If the collector finds the disputed land (parking area at Lake Palace resort) had been included in the data bank, it will be violation of the 2008 Act that can be punished with imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh,” says, Dr P. Hari Narayanan, an expert in wetland conservation rules.
Transport minister Thomas Chandy, who is in the eye of a storm over illegal constructions for his Lake Palace resort, will find it difficult to legally challenge the collector’s preliminary report finding evidence of wetland encroachment by him. The collector has powers to take action against the violations of Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act 2008, which prescribes stiff penalty for the guilty. District collector T.V. Anupama is acting under sub-section 3 of section 3 of the Act and has issued notices for hearing the local people.
The preliminary report was prepared by the collector after inspecting the paddyland situated within the jurisdiction of the district- level authorised committee or the collector. “If the collector finds the disputed land (parking area at Lake Palace resort) had been included in the data bank, it will be violation of the 2008 Act that can be punished with imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh,” says, Dr P. Hari Narayanan, an expert in wetland conservation rules.
“Since the area around Vembanad lake was declared as a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance), even minor intervention in the area would invite harsh scrutiny of law,” he points out. According to CRZ notification 2011, Vembanad is classified as critically vulnerable coastal area (CVCA). Mr Thomas Chandy may get a stay order from the court against any action by the collector. However, if the collector comes up with a foolproof report, things will not be easy for him, he says.
