Fresh row over Kovalam Land

The controversial Kovalam Palace land has once again come under the scanner with the government, despite having documentary evidence of its ownership, not taking over about 20 acres of land worth Rs 400 crore.   

The village records show that an extent of 18.176 acres in block 14, resurvey number 7/1 in Vizhinjam, is still in the name of ITDC even after a portion of the land was sold to a hotel group. Though in the ownership of ITDC, the government is alleged to have no access to the land, which is again becoming controversial.  

During the sales deed, it is alleged that the government had not gone through the Land procedures. When a part of the land was sold to a hotel group,  the government is alleged to have not demarcated the government land from the whole extent, thus in a way losing the prime land to private players.  

As per records with the Vizhinjam village office, resurvey number 7 in block 14 from which the land was sold to the hotel group had a total extent of of 46.18 acres. Of this, the Hotel group was handed over 26.567 acres in resurvey number 7/1-1. A religious place also holds land to an extent of 1.43 acre. And the remaining 18.176 acres is still in the name of ITDC in the Thandaper register.

From the village records, it is clear that when the controversial land was sold to the hotel group, the government has not done 'subdivision' of the land, which was mandatory when giving pattayam (title deed) to government lands. It is quite evident from the Village officials that there exists no subdivision record with them. It is necessary that the village office maintains the subdivision record once it involves handing over public lands to individuals or others. Subdivision is to be made in order to demarcate the boundary and any government land can be sold only after the boundaries of the government land is demarcated.

Source: The New Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/418081/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/16-01-2015#page/4/1