Collector’s final report indicates Wetland Act violation by Kerala transport minister Thomas Chandy
The Lake Palace Resort, owned by Chandy, was constructed in paddy land and the company had filled government property at Marthandam Lake.
Published: 07th November 2017 09:29 AM | Last Updated: 07th November 2017 09:29 AM | A+A A-
ALAPPUZHA: Transport Minister Thomas Chandy found himself further on the back foot after the final report submitted by Alappuzha Collector T V Anupama clearly indicated the Water World Tourism Company owned by him had violated all norms of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008 and Kerala Land Conservancy Act 1957.The reports availed under the RTI query showed the minister and his company had violated all norms of both acts.
Revenue Minister
The Lake Palace Resort, owned by Chandy, was constructed in paddy land and the company had filled government property at Marthandam Lake. The collector submitted two separate reports to the state government regarding the violations of Lake Place Resort and the filling of paddy land at Marthandam Kayal. The direction of rivulets in the Karuvelil paddy field changed and the motor shed dismantled for constructing the road to resort. The road was constructed by violating Wetland Act and with the misuse of government fund, report said.
It also said the land used for building resort is paddy land, as per the revenue department documents. Many of the Karuvelil paddy fields are suspected to be owned by benamis. A portion of the land where the resort stays is included in the data bank of the revenue department, the report said. The report also mentioned previous collector and revenue officials failed to enforce government laws in the filling of land and construction of buildings.
Chandy row: CPM to await AG’s advice
T’Puram: The Left front is adopting a wait and watch policy before taking action against Transport Minister Thomas Chandy. The Left may wait for legal advice on the Collector’s report before taking a call. The CPM state secretariat which met here on Monday is learnt to have come to an understanding to wait for the Advocate General’s advice while the CPI - which has demanded action against the minister based on the District Collector’s report - is of the view the LDF would take a call on the issue.
