Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has directed the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (Trida) to issue a general order lifting the restrictions on construction activities in the `controlled area' notified for the Theerapadham project.

The directive was issued last month on a petition filed by the Kerala Building Designers Organisation (KBDO) alleging that hundreds of residents were being put to much hardship by the curbs on construction within the notified area for the stillborn project. The petition observed that landowners had to wait for months to secure clearance from the Theerapadham project office and Trida to construct or renovate buildings.

The notified area for the Theerapadham project spans 32 sq.km. of land on both banks of the Parvathy Puthanar canal in five revenue villages. Though the notification does not specify a freeze on the project area, it prohibits construction or alteration of buildings and the removal of earth, stone and materials without Trida's permission. The restrictions apply to hundreds of survey numbers in the Attipra, Cheruvakkal, Kadakampally, Palkulangara, Iranimuttam and Muttathara villages.

The Rs.950-crore project is an ambitious plan aimed at creating an alternative satellite township to ease the strain on the capital city and give a fillip to the commercial and tourism sectors in the region. The project area which comprises a 16-kilometre stretch of the Parvathy Puthanar canal from Akkulam to Kovalam in the western coastal region of the city is proposed to be developed into a well-planned neighbourhood township with facilities for trade and commerce, housing, parks and open spaces, sports, recreation, tourism and cultural centres.

In 2001, the Cabinet approved the project and an amount of Rs.50 lakh was earmarked in the budget. But five years later, it remains a non-starter. KBDO president Kowdiar Harikumar says the project was facing uncertainties in the absence of a master plan and clearly defined land requirements.

"Applications for building permits are shuttled between various departments, leading to inordinate delay. We moved the High Court with a request for a general order sanctioning construction activities 50 metres away from the canal," he says.

Residents allege that the regulations cried halt to all development activities in the notified areas. Zonal restrictions impose regulations on land use, which necessitate Government exemption for construction or renovation of houses. Though technically, zonal regulations are not as severe as a freeze on land, they are no less harassing for the affected families saddled with unproductive land, which finds no takers.

Residents allege that granting exemptions had become a milch cow for corrupt Government officials and politicians. They point to the futility of regulations when special sanctions give sanctity to violations. Incidentally, Trida issued more than 2,000 exemptions orders for building permits in the Theerapadham project area during the last five years.

The High Court order directs Trida to ascertain the views of the Government and issue a general order within four months sanctioning construction activities in the area apart from that required for the project. Trida secretary Krishnarajan says the Government had received the High Court order. "We have initiated discussions on lifting the curbs. A decision is expected soon," he adds.

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