Aranmula: Govt delays action against officials

The government is alleged to be delaying action against the officials responsible for illegal reclamation of the paddy fields and wet land in Aranmula, which has been recommended by the Land Revenue Commissioner. An official meeting held on Tuesday with respect to the issue is learned to have not arrived at any decision.

The government, which is supportive of the proposed airport, is allegedly to be purposefully delaying the whole process as it will be at a loss to justify the action if taken against the officials who were responsible for the reclamation. Once action is taken against the officials, the government fears that the allegations of reclamation are proved true, it is alleged.

Revenue Principal Secretary Sathyajeeth Rajan, additional secretaries of the Revenue department and top officials from the Land Board and Commissionerate of Land Revenue were present at the meeting.

The meeting discussed in length the recommendations, which had called for action against the respective officials who had held the post from 2008 and responsible for the conversion. However, the officials are also learned to have raised the issue that the officials who had held the respective posts from 2006 onwards. In the meeting, it was also pointed out that action had been initiated against only one or two low level officials and the top officials were spared till now.

Source: The Newindian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/226858/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/10-02-2014#page/2/1

Conversion of Natural Pond into Swimming Pool: Panchayat still adamant against rules

The pace at which the Pallichal panchayat is moving ahead with the conversion of a 

natural pond into a swimming pool has mounted apprehension among the public, even as a 

case is pending before the High Court.  The panchayat authorities are alleged to be 

gearing up the construction work in a move to complete it before any intervention crops 

in. 

A part for the pond near Vedivachancoil has now been filled with mud. The Authorities 

are also drying up the remaining pond for furthering the construction. The authorities 

are alleged to be moving  ahead after the  Jalasaya Samrakshana Samithi withdrew the 

petition it had filed before the High Court and the Lokayuktha. However, another case 

has now been filed before the High Court with respect to the pond.  

The people in the area who preferred anonymity said that the latest pace with which the pond is being dried up and filled with mud shows that the authorities want to complete 

the project fast believing that no interference can come once it is finished.  

Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishath (KSSP), which has been voicing against the conversion 

of the pond violating the existing laws, alleged that the panchayat are now undertaking 

the work in a haste only to mislead the people and the court. 

Though the Panchayat authorities claim to have undertaken a major part of the work, it 

can be seen that only mud filling exercise has been done, former KSSP state secretary 

and a native of Vedivachancoil said. Moreover, he also refuted the claim of the authorities that the pond is dry. ''One can see that the pond is now being dried up using pump for 

further construction. Moreover water can also be seen at one end of the pond. All these 

show that the authorities are spreading mere lies,'' he said. 

Meanwhile, Kerala State Sports  Council said that they were not aware of any new case 

being filed with respect to the pond. When contacted, Council secretary P S Abdul 

Rassak  said that he was not aware of any new case filed with respect to the pond. 

''I only have the information that case has been settled and construction work has started again,'' he said. 

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/225294/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/07-02-2014#page/17/1

Aranmula: Govt for giving exemption to over 200 acres of land

The state government, which is so adamant in supporting the controversial private Airport at Aranmula despite widespread protests citing several legal impediments pertaining to land acquisition and environment disasters , has decided to go ahead with granting exemption to more than 200 acres of land that the airport promoters -- KGS group had acquired as part of the project.

The Revenue department has been asked to make a proposal in the cabinet with regard to providing exemption to the land acquired by the private company inviloation of the Land Reforms Act. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Friday, which was attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Pathanamthitta MLA K Shivadasan Nair, Revenue Principal Secretary Sathyajeeth Rajan and top officials from the Land Board and Commissionerate of Land Revenue.

In the meeting it was also decided to file a counter affidavit against the Green Tribunal order that stayed the construction of the airport until further orders, highly placed sources said. The meeting observed that the government had the discretionary powers to give exemption for the project under the Land Reforms Act and also from the Wet land and Paddy Conservation Act, the sources said.

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/225885/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/08-02-2013#page/4/1