ALAPPUZHA: District Collector T V Anupama has submitted the final report on the alleged violation of the Wetland Act and encroachments of paddy fields by Transport Minister Thomas Chandy. The report was handed over to Revenue Principal Secretary P H Kurian at Thiruvananthapuram by late evening on Saturday.
The report found violations in filling up a paddy field for constructing a parking ground of Lake Palace Resort owned by the Minister and agricultural land at Marthandam Kayal, and setting up a buoy in the Vembanad Lake.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan confirmed the submission of the report. The Collector prepared the report based on the findings and survey carried out by the Revenue team. A road was constructed to the Lake Palace Resort and construction of the parking ground was carried out violating the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act.
The report suggests the action against government officers who helped the Minister carry out illegal activities in the area. It also mentioned the names of political leaders irrespective of political affiliation. Money was allotted by MPs P J Kurian and K E Ismail and two former MLAs from their funds for the construction of a road leading to the resort from Valiyakulam. The Harbour Engineering Department had recently paved the road and it was also in violation of the norms. So the report suggests action against the department officers who unnecessarily supported Chandy for utilising government money for personal benefit.
“The direction of the stream in Karuvelil paddy field was changed for helping resort owners. The satellite image is a document to prove the change in direction of the stream. The images are also attached with the documents,” said a highly placed source in the Revenue Department.
The RDO had given sanction to set up a buoy in the lake in front of the resort for preventing the movement of vessels and fishing activities. There was no provision to give such a sanction. So, the report recommends more examination of the permission given by the Revenue Department officials.