THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has sent out notice to one of its own engineers’ associations - Association of Public Health Engineers of Kerala (APHEK) - for allegedly encroaching on KWA land.
KWA now has the authority to evict any encroachment on its land. Presently, a multi-storey building - Aqua Towers - is located on the disputed land owned by APHEK at Kowdiar.
Reportedly, the notice was served to the APHEK by former Managing Director Ashok Kumar Singh before he stepped down from his office at KWA in January.
Earlier, in 2010, the District Collector had cancelled the ‘tandaperu’ of the land after irregularities regarding the survey number surfaced.
Crying foul over the possession of the land, sources at KWA confirmed the passage of ‘crucial’ water supply lines through the land. “We have water transmission lines passing through the land. However, while the irregularities regarding the ownership and survey number of the land continue to exist, KWA also needs to prove its ownership of the land,” said a source at KWA.
However, president of APHEK S Harris said that it was not an issue of encroachment.
“We had bought the land from the royal family at Kowdiar Palace. How can it be encroachment then?” he asked.
Currently, the case is before the High Court.
Harris said that the Association had replied to the notice served by KWA. “We have explained the nature of purchase of the land and from whom this land was bought,” he added.
The disputed land is a part of land sections between Peroorkada and Vellayambalam which were acquired by KWA in the earlier part of the 20th century. However, according to an official at the Vigilance wing of KWA, in due course of time, the land was added to the royal family’s property.
“As per the Kerala Water Authority Act, KWA will have the possession of the lands through which its major pipelines pass,” said the official.
However, he ruled out any immediate action by KWA on the land as the case is pending before the High Court.
According to the new regulation - Kerala Water Authority (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupation and Removal of Unauthorised Construction) Regulations, 2014 - Executive Engineers of the sub-divisions concerned are authorised to carry out the eviction of occupants following 30 days of serving the notice.
