After alleged controversies were raised against the issuing of licenses to the bungalows of the Kannan Devan Hills Plantations
Company Private Ltd in Munnar, the Idukki district administration is learned to take a decision on the unilateral decision of the secretaries of Munnar and
Devikulam panchayats. The Devikulam RDO has submitted a report to the District collector in this regard.
It is learned that the Devikulam RDO in his report had
said that the panchayat secretaries had issued the licenses on the basis of the
Ombudsman's order. The district administration will examine if the Ombudsman's
order can be implemented in the wake of High Court order and other pending
cases.
It is alleged that revenue and district administration have been
kept in the dark while issuing licenses. Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan
had come out against the decision, demanding the government to withdraw the
order.
The licenses had been given when an interim
order by the High Court clearly says that its concurrence and direction was
needed for any decision related to giving license for Homestays or use of the
land for tourism purposes. It had also directed that the order of the LSGD
Ombudsman giving permission to grant licenses should not be implemented.
Source: The New Indian Express
