Govt Mulls ordinance on HML; Majority against legislation on KDH lines

The Kerala government, which has toughened its stand against Harrisons Malayalam Ltd (HML), has set the ball rolling with a plan to bring in an ordinance to take back all lands in their illegal possession. Chief Minister Oomman Chandy is learned to call an exclusive meeting in this regard at the earliest, taking into the seriousness of the issue .

Though the government is learned to be in favour of an ordinance on the lines of KDH resumption, the ruling/opposition leaders and revenue officials are of the opinion that the ordinance should not be framed on the lines of KDH resumption. The revenue department has already prepared a draft legislation for retrieving the land and for its distribution for cultivation and purposes ancillary thereto under the control and management of the government. 

'Many flaws have come across in the KDH resumption. It has to been seen that the government is now engaged in many legal issues with the company even though the land belongs to government. It is alleged that they possess more land and are even ruling Munnar town. This should not happen when HML land is taken back.  Everything should be under the control of the government and history should not be repeated,'' they said.  

KPCC vice president and a member of the Green MLA group V D Satheeshan said ''it has been found that they have indulged in forging documents and engaged in all fraudulent activities. The government should not deter in taking back the lands. Once taken back, the government should have a  mechanism to utilise the land as it is the government's duty.''

T N Pratapan, another member of the `Green MLA brigade said that they will oppose any ordinance that would help those who now illegally posses the plantations. ''The vigilance has come across fraudulent documents in their possession. We cannot think of an ordinance on the lines of KDH. How can the persons who had exploited the state again given the Plantations?,'' he said.  The plantations should be brought under some cooperative society in which the employees of the plantation have some role, Pratapan said. ''If an ordinance is brought to help those who now possess it will be taken up in the party as well as the UDF,'' he said. 

Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/262151/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/24-04-2014#page/4/1

License to KDH Bungalows; District Admn initiates steps

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

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/181280/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/06-11-2013#page/5/1

Defying Court orders, KDH given licence for Home stays in Munnar , Kerala

Defying Kerala High Court's direction and contrary to Kerala government's objections, as many as 20 bungalows of the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations Company Private Limited in Munnar have been given license for running Homestays. The Revenue and district administration have been kept in the dark while issuing license by the Munnar and Devikulam panchayats.

The panchayat authorities have also given NOC to M/s Muthoot Hotels Pvt Ltd to run tourist bungalows on the basis of the license already issued in the name of KDHP company.

In an interim order dated December 7, 2012 The High Court has said that its concurrence and direction was needed for any decision related to giving license for Homestays or use of the land for tourism purposes. The Court had also directed that the order of the LSGD Ombudsman giving permission to grant licenses should not be implemented. However, the Munnar and Devikulam Panchayat secretaries have issued licenses on the basis of the Ombudsman's order.

Devikulam RDO Madhu Gangadhar said that the NOC and the license has been issued without consulting the district administration or the revenue department.
Legal experts point out that the action of both the panchayat secretaries amount to contempt of court. There are allegations that certain political leaders leaders were behind issuing the license.
Source: The NewIndian Express
http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/180729/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/04-11-2013#page/6/1