The controversy over the
conversion of a pond into a swimming pool in Pallichal Panchayat has taken a
new turn with the Lok Ayukta appointing an Advocate commission to look into the
issue. A division bench comprising Justice Pius C Kuriakose and Justice K P Balachandran
appointed the commission with five points to be explored.
Jitu S Babu, who was
appointed as the commission, on Monday visited the pond and took stock of the
present situation. He told express that the report will be filed before Friday.
Babu said that the court had asked him to look into four aspects.
It is learned that the
commission had been asked to look into if it was a natural pond and if there
was a spring. Moreover, the commission was also asked to record the area that as
been filled and the portion of water now present.
The Division Bench had
decided to appoint a commission after hearing the arguments of both the
Panchayat and those opposing the conversion. It is argued that the pond was a
natural pond under the government and was found in the survey records of 1920.
The panchayat and others had argued that the pond was dry whereas the petitioner
had convinced the court with pictures that water was still in the pond. Earlier
there were allegations that the water filled pond was dried up for facilitating
the conversion. A petition has been already filed with the panchayat,
agriculture office and the police, alleging that the pond that was almost full
in the recent showers was dried up only to create an impression that it was
always dry.
Source: the New Indian Express
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