THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan on Monday said a decision could not be taken on the allegations of encroachment by Transport Minister Thomas Chandy based on Alappuzha District Collector’s interim report. The Collector has been asked to file a comprehensive report. A decision on any action could be taken only after the final report is submitted, he said. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala submitted a letter to the Revenue Minister demanding a probe against Chandy. He demanded to register a case against Chandy at the earliest.
In the interim report submitted last week, Collector T V Anupama pointed to the encroachment of Marthandam Lake and large-scale violation of rules to build a resort owned by the Minister. The report stated some parts of the lake were filled. It said the structure of the land in the region was found to be changed, which was quite evident from satellite pictures.
Chennithala writes to Revenue min for legal course against Thomas Chandy
T’Puram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has submitted a letter to Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, seeking initiation of prosecution proceedings against his Cabinet collegaue and Transport Minister Thomas Chandy, under the provisions of Kerala Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act, 2008. He said in a recent report filed and supplemented with satellite pictures by the Alappuzha district collector it is clear the parking ground for the Lake Palace resort under the ownership of Thomas Chandy was constructed after filling up a wetland stretch.
The finding is that the very character of the backwaters has changed now. ‘’The minister is liable for prosecution for violation of rules under S.23 of Paddy and Wetland Conservation Act . Delay in initiating prosecution proceedings can be viewed only as a challenge to the rule of law,’’ he said. ‘In accordance with S.12(1) of the Act, orders should be issued to the Revenue Divisional Officer to proceed against Thomas Chandy,” he demanded. Chennithala’s pleas with the Chief Minister and later with the Vigilance ad-hoc chief, for action against Thomas Chandy had failed to bring a desired effect.