THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has asked revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan to book transport minister Thomas Chandy under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008. Mr Chennithala said in a letter that the car- parking area of Lake Palace resort was constructed by reclaiming the paddy land as reported by Alappuzha district collector T. V. Anupama. Mr Chennithala said such an act by a minister in the LDF ministry could not be justified.
According to section 23 of Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, Mr Chandy should be punished by law. “Despite the collector giving a report against Thomas Chandy, the authorities are keeping mum on his encroachment. The documents related to the issue also reveal that Thomas Chandy had resorted to encroachment. But still no action has been taken by the LDF government,” he said. He demanded the appointment of a revenue divisional officer as per the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 12(1) to begin prosecution procedures against Mr Chandy at the Alappuzha chief judicial magistrate court.
Collector’s hearing on Lake Palace resort
District collector T.V. Anupama will carry out a public hearing on the alleged encroachment of wetland by the Lake Palace resort owned by Transport Minister Thomas Chandy on Tuesday. This is being done to gather evidence under section 3 of the Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conserva-tion Act, 2008. The collector will receive complaints from the public and if there is evidence of encroachment, the collector can act against the violation and ask the land holder to vacate the encroachment.
The collector can also initiate prosecution proceedings to restore the paddy land. Since Vemban-ad lake and surrounding areas come under Ramsar site (wetland of international importance), she can also apply the wetland conservation and management rules of Centre. The collector will also hear the authorities of Water World Company which runs the resort.
