Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

`No delay in processing files'

Special Correspondent

Request for final clearance for forest land to develop Sabarimala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Water Resources and Forests Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Minister for Devaswoms K.C. Venugopal said here on Thursday that no delay had occurred in processing files for forest clearance needed for the development of Sabarimala.

Referring to the reported remarks of visiting members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament that the final clearance for 12.67 hectares of forests had not come through yet because the Government had not filed the needed report, the Ministers said that the report was filed on October 18. The final clearance was expected in a few days.

Giving dates, the Ministers said the Government had acted fast in getting the clearance.

It had forwarded the application received from the Board by the Divisional Forest Officer on March 23 to the Centre on March 29. Other formalities were completed in record time.

Asserting that the Government would not allow forest officials to undermine the clearance, they said that they did not perceive any subversion as such. Some officials had raised technical objections.

This was for fear of strictures from the Supreme Court. The Government was resolving differences between the Board and the Forest Department at the Ministerial level.

They said that the contract for the water supply scheme for Guruvayur and neighbouring municipalities and panchayats would be tendered in a few days. The work on the project would start in November.

The Kerala Water Authority, the Guruvayur Devaswom, the Government and the local authorities would share the cost of the Rs. 38-crore project.

The Devaswom would provide Rs. 55 crores and the Government would grant Rs. 12 crores (partly through the local authorities).

The authority would raise the balance from financial institutions. Mr. Venugopal said land acquisition for the Ring Road at Guruvayur was at its final stage. The work on a new `Anakottil' and `Thualabhara Counter' would be taken up next month.

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