Kerala   

Illegal structures at Kovalam to be razed

Staff Reporter

ALL SET FOR CRACKDOWN: Buildings under construction on the Light House Beach at Kovalam. - Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Unauthorised constructions which have marred the beauty of the Kovalam beach resort will be demolished soon.

This directive was given to the Vizhinjam panchayat by T.K. Jose, Secretary, Local Self-Government, at a meeting of the Kovalam Development Agency here on Saturday. It comes in the wake of the reluctance on the part of the panchayat to check the rampant constructions being carried out in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms and Kerala Municipal Building Rules.

The illegal constructions were reported by The Hindu on August 15. The issue figured at the KDA meeting attended by George Mercier, MLA; E.K. Bharat Bhushan, Principal Secretary, Tourism; B. Suman, Tourism Director; N. Ayyappan, District Collector; senior officials of the Local Self-Government and Tourism departments; and the panchayat presidents and representatives of the local unit of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association.

153 illegal constructions

The panchayat recently submitted a list of 153 unauthorised constructions to the Government and 13 were identified for demolition. The panchayat was asked why it failed to check the illegal constructions and honour the assurance given at a meeting called by the Government. Instructions have been given to the panchayat authorities to immediately serve an "intimation notice" to those who put up the unauthorised structures and follow it with up a "confirmation notice."

Sources in the Tourism Department said the constructions would be demolished before the commencement of the season after the procedures were completed.

The meeting decided to hand over streetlights on the beach resort to the panchayat and take steps to cover the drain on the Light House road with slabs. The strength of the Tourism police personnel will be increased from 15 to 23. It was decided to rope in the City Corporation for improving infrastructure.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kerala, Tamil Nadu to jointly inspect dam
Government, Board bound to adhere to custom: tantris
Illegal structures at Kovalam to be razed
Next issue
Today at Sabarimala
Marking a day
Honouring an artiste
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu