Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Club locks horns with Corporation

Special Correspondent

Golf Club says it is operating on PWD licence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A resolution adopted by the City Corporation Council urging the Government to reclaim leased land from elite clubs evoked a response from the Trivandrum Golf Club on Saturday.

A pressnote issued by the club here said the institution was operating on a licence from the Public Works Department (PWD) and not a lease agreement.

“Under the licence terms, the club pays a fee to the Government. All the payments are up-to-date and there are no dues,” the pressnote said.

It went on to say that the club had joined hands with the Tourism Department to market golf tourism in the international market. “Last year, the club received nearly 300 foreign tourists and many domestic tourists. The club is also taking steps to conserve and maintain the premises as a national heritage property.”

The pressnote quoting honorary secretary E.M. Najeeb also highlighted the importance of the club as one of the few remaining green lungs in the city.

The Corporation, however, maintained that it had accessed Revenue documents showing that the 25.38 acres on which the club is located were taken on lease from the Government.

Civic officials pointed out that only the building inside the premises was maintained by the PWD.

Health standing committee chairman G.R. Anil said the club was functioning without the mandatory licence from the Corporation specified under the provisions of the Kerala Municipalities Act. Only the restaurant on the premises had a valid licence from the local body. The remaining facilities, including the marriage hall, were not licensed. “An institution with a governing body comprising the Chief Secretary, three Government secretaries and the District Collector and one that caters to the elite social class should have taken note of such a serious lapse,” he said.

The council resolution only reflected the opinion of the public on the issue, he added.

Interestingly, the annual report for the year 2006-07 presented at the general body meeting held on June 25 stated that the club had received a notice from the Government for remittance of Rs.44.5 crore as lease arrears of the premises during the year 2004-05. It said the club had filed a petition for reconsideration of the demand.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has directed the Health Officer to inspect the premises of clubs that have marriage halls without the mandatory licence from the civic body. “At least three of the premier clubs in the city have unlicensed wedding halls. They will be issued notice after inspection of the premises,” Mr. Anil said.

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