Award for conservation of Natural Resources a Mockery

Pallichal Panchayat, which was in the controversy over converting a natural pond into a 
swimming pool, has bagged the Natural Resource Conservation Award given away by the
Kerala State Land Use board.  The award has been presented for the best Panchayat in the 
south Zone category for preserving natural resources at a time the panchayat is all set to 
convert a natural pond into a swimming pool. 
The Land Use board officials said that they have not heard about a swimming pool project of the Panchayat. The documents that were produced before the Award committee did not mention about the project or the case filed in the High Court in this regard. Kerala State Land Use 
Board Joint Director S Edison said that the award was given to the best panchayat which had initiated various projects for water resources conservation in the last 2 years. The awareness progarmmes, plan projects for water conservation and the utilisation of funds with respect to the conservation of natural resources was taken into account for the award, he said.
The award is alleged to be given to a panachayat which was trying to reverse the water 
resources. There was already a mass protest against the conversion of the pond into a 
swimming pool at Vedivachancoil near the National Highway.
Though the panchayat claims that it would not have any adverse impact in the future, 

it is alleged that the area that is already reeling under water shortage  will see the worsein the future





Source: The Newindian Express






http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/210806/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/09-01-2014#page/17/1