Kochi: Kerala high court on Monday asked Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) to ensure that their property in Mundamveli, where an eco-farm project is planned, is not included as a wetland in the data bank prepared by the local-level monitoring centre.
The court made it clear that if the database is not prepared, a certificate has to be obtained from the concerned local level monitoring committee. The GCDA initiated the '6-crore ecotourism project as a unique venture with facilities like a walkway, traditional and cage fishing, children’s playground, food court and an amphitheatre.
“If it is not a wetland project construction in the property have and be done only with the sanction of Coastal Zone Management Authority," the court said while considering a public interest litigation.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A. M. Shaffique issued the order on a petition of M.J. Peter of Kochi against the project.
“Any project of GCDA has to be implemented keeping in mind the law of the land,” the court held. It observed that there was nothing on record to show that the project comes on a wetland. Though the GCDA project is in public intent and to facilitate ecotourism, still GCDA has to comply with the statutory requirements. The PIL alleged that GCDA had reclaimed wetland and paddy fields and was destructing mangroves.
