Misuse of power: Govt mum on survey officials

Despite reports of large-scale misappropriation in survey measurement, providing titles deeds and guarding public land, especially in the Idukki district, the government is maintaining silence, alleged to political and other pressures. Even the Deputy Director's report on the issue is learned to have gone missing from the Directorate of Survey and Land Records. 

The deputy Survey directors in various districts have been sending reports pertaining to the misuse of  powers by the various survey officials, especially the district superintendents. However, no action has yet been taken on the reports that has led to widespread corruption.

In the reports, a few of which are with Express, widespread irregularities are noticed. A report of the Deputy Director with regard to the Survey Superintendentof Idukki K Jayakumar, it has been pointed out that the official had misused his powers. Most of the irregularities were found in the files dealing with conversion of land, title deeds and measurements of the land. After inspecting the files from two Taluks of Udumbanchola and Devikulam, the Deputy Director has reported on widespread irregularities, which the government is yet to act upon. 

It is also alleged that most of the reports of the Deputy Directors go missing when reaching the Directorate's office. It is only after months that the respective reports reach the respective official, which is aimed at delaying the whole process. However,  Survey and Land Records Department director Mitra T refuted all these allegations, stating that no reports have gone missing. ''With respect to the recent report on the Idukki Survey Superintendent and reports from other districts, an inquiry will be conducted.  We have taken the issue very seriously and action will be taken once the inquiry is over,'' she said. 

Source: The newindian Express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/429705/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/02-02-2015#page/4/1

Govt says redeployment of MC Doctors based on DME report

Even as the Medical College teachers threaten to launch an agitation against redeploying doctors at the Medical Colleges to run the newly set up Medical colleges at Manjeri and Idukki, the government has stated that the decision to redeploy them was taken based on a report of the Director of Medical Education (DME).

The government has made it clear that the DME, who was asked for a report on the staff pattern, had given a report that there were more teachers as per the norms of the Medical Council of India in the existing medical colleges. ''When the file for creating posts at the new medical colleges was sent to the Finance Department, it had asked for a report of the staff pattern in the Medical Colleges. The DME was entrusted with the task and the director had reported that there were more teachers in the Medical Colleges as per the MCI Norms,'' Health Minister V S Sivakumar said.

On the notice served by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) that they would go for a strike if Government issues an order with respect to redeployment, he said that the government has nothing to do in this. ''It is their head who said in the report that the medical colleges had more teachers than the prescribed MCI norms and the doctors can be redeployed. It was only after this report that the government had moved ahead in the issue,'' he said.

Source: The new Indian express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/376154/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/17-11-2014#page/3/1

Probe on into charges of KDHP's illegal toll collection

The Revenue department has initiated a probe into widespread complaints raised against the illegal tourism activities and levying of fee from public/tourists by the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations.  The tourists and public are alleged to be taxed by way of entry charges, sight seeing charges, toll charges, road user charges and road maintenance charge, which cannot be done as per the Kanan Devan Hills Resumption Act.

The Land Board secretary, which has got an instruction from the Government Principal Secretary to look into the complaints, had directed the Idukki district administration to look into the issue and file a report at the earliest.  

Highly placed officials said that they have been receiving complaints with regard to levying fee from the public as well as tourists.  They said that as per the Kanan Devan Hills Resumption Act, 1971, the public right is protected and the company has no right over the roads. Further the roads are now maintained by the concerned panchayats from the state fund. Moreover, they also have no right to sell the greenery to the tourists and above all the land is offered to them on lease for plantation purpose only.

It is alleged that the company was levying road user fee of Rs 50 and road maintenance fee of Rs 150. On the allegations, PWD secretary T O Sooraj told Express that an affidavit has been filed with the High Court in this regard. As per the KDH Act, the company does not have any right over the roads and the land has been given to them on lease for plantation purpose only, he said.

Public Interest Protection Association (PIPA) , on whose complaint the Government had now given the instructions, alleged that KDHP had erected check points in major tourist spots and roads.  PIPA Secretary V Mohan Kumar alleged that the road to Devikulam lake from Ciggerrete point, road to Mankulam side, Rajamally and to Pothenmedu were all blocked and fee was being levied. Though the authorities were intimated about this many times, they have not taken any action, he claimed. 

source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/262580/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/25-04-2014#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