KOCHI: As the district administration is going all out against encroachment of M.G. Road and promised strict action against encroachments of river and backwaters, environmental and human rights activists have alleged that the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has flouted laws to fill up the Periyar and construct a restaurant there.

Addressing the media S. Seetharaman, secretary, Paristhiti Samrakshana Sanghom; C.M. Joy, general secretary, Kerala Nadi Samrakshana Samiti; Sivan Madathil, Kerala Human Rights Protection Samiti; and C.R. Neelakantan, environmental and human rights activist; said that the district administration and Aluva municipality flouted all rules and laws to construct the building near Marthanda Varma Bridge at Aluva.

The building does not have mandatory permits for land development, construction and pollution control and no navigation study or Environment Impact Assessment was made for the building.

The official records listed the area in which building has been constructed as river.

The construction should be demolished by a team that does not include the District Collector, as he is the chairman of the DTPC, they demanded.

If this building was legalised, it will set a bad precedent and all the local bodies along Periyar could fill up land for construction purposes, the activists said.

Plea to revise laws

They also demanded that land use and forest laws be revised thoroughly to prevent encroachments in future at Munnar. Only tourism project in tune with fragile ecology of Munnar be allowed in future.

The number of people visiting the hill station should be restricted according to its carrying capacity.

Accommodation for tourists should be made only in places such as Adimali, Neryamangalam, Kallarkutty and Pooppara.

Encroachments along Kochi backwaters, especially near Kerala High Court and Thevara and nearby areas of Goshree Bridges, should be treated as violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act. All constructions should be demolished and mangrove planted, they demanded.

They also called for a State-level vigilance cell to look into the actual status of Government land calculated by District Collectors and revenue officials.

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