Thiruvananthapuram: Pressure is mounting on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to act against Transport Minister Thomas Chandy as Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan has endorsed the Alappuzha collector’s findings that Lake Palace, in which Mr Chandy has high stakes, stands in breach of Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008. Mr Chandrasekaran was huddled with his aides in his office twice on Tuesday, perusing the report before giving his opinion to Mr Pinarayi Vijayan. He met Mr Vijayan at a tribal affairs meeting but was expected to hand over his report later in the day.
The minister had obtained the Collector’s report directly, which in normal circumstances would end with his direction for action at the level of the Collector. But since the allegations concern his Cabinet colleague and the Opposition had raised them in the Assembly, Mr Chandrasekharan is obliged to present a report to the CM. Sources say that his report to the CM reflects his own perception, based on the Collector’s final report. The Minister is seized of the gravity of the issue, its implications and consequences.
“But he wants it to be fair and objective so that the CM can take a decision after hearing Mr Chandy’s version”, a Revenue source said. Mr Vijayan had already stated in the Assembly that the allegations against Mr Chandy “are politically motivated”. Mr Chandy had assured the House that he would give up public life if it was proved that he was in “illegal possession of at least once cent”.
Thiruvananthapuram: In Alappuzha, the municipal council has slapped a notice on Water World Tourism Company Pvt Ltd, which owns Lake Palace, to produce papers within seven days to prove its legal status or face demolition of all buildings at the company’s expense. In a counter move, Karuvely Padasekhara Samrakshanan Samithy has approached the High Court, accusing Collector T V Anupama of committing contempt of court by probing and filing a report on the Water World company violations in Marthandam Lake when the issue was already in the court.
