CUMBUM: The Tamil Nadu Government issued notice to the Kerala Government seeking to submit documents explaining its right over the construction of a mega car parking inside the Mullaiperiyar catchment area.
According to official sources after the Supreme Court’s May 7 order allowing Tamil Nadu to increase the storage level to 142 feet, Kerala forest officials have started construction work to create a mega car parking lot inside the catchment area round the clock.
Recently when the TN PWD officials conducted a survey of the parking area, they were prevented by Kerala officials from carrying out the work. They also demanded the PWD officials to provide details of the catchment areas, the officer recalled. In this regard PWD officials released the details that catchment area of the Mullaiperiyar dam that was 8,593 areas and submitted the same to Tamil Nadu Government as well.
Officials also explained that despite they have paid a lease amount of `30 per acre for 8,593 acres, Kerala officials continued to encroach the catchment areas, the officer complained.
TN Officials have also sent a map to the government detailing the construction of car parking lot inside the Mullaiperiyar catchment area violating the rules. In this circumstance, the TN government has issued a notice to the Kerala Government seeking to explain the rights they have over the area where the car parking was being constructed. “The government also asked to prove their rights with the documentary evidence,” said the officer.
It is worth mentioning that the National Tiger Conservation Authority has already sent a communication to the Kerala Government in 2012 objecting the construction of the car parking lot.