The Hindu : Front Page : Demolition of resort ordered

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Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
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Demolition of resort ordered

Special Correspondent

Demolition cost to be realised

Government not going slow on demolition: Minister
Opposition points out ‘contradiction’ in State stand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has issued orders for the demolition of Dhanyasree Resort in Munnar, which has been constructed on encroached land, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran told the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Revenue Minister announced this while replying to a submission by V.D. Satheesan (Congress). He said the Government would realise the cost of demolition from the building owner and added that there was obstacle before the Government in carrying out the decision.

Submission

The issue was originally sought to be raised in the form of an adjournment motion, but Speaker K. Radhakrishnan allowed Mr. Satheesan to make only a submission on the subject. Mr. Satheesan accused the Government of having deliberately gone slow on the demolition in order to save the structure in the encroached land.

The dilly-dallying on the part of the Government had resulted in the hotel owners approaching the High Court against the demolition move. They withdrew only when it became clear that their petition would be rejected, the MLA said.

The Government stand was a clear case of discrimination as it had not shown the same leniency towards other resort owners, Mr. Satheesan said.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the Revenue Minister’s announcement was contradictory to the Chief Minister’s statement the other day that the Government decision was to take over the resort and keep it in its possession. Whom should be believe? he asked.

Chandy backed

Several Opposition members also rose in support of the Opposition Leader prompting Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to respond to Mr. Chandy. The Opposition, he said, was trying to create confusion over the demolition drive just as they had done in the case of the land held by the Tatas.

Although the Opposition had offered all support to the demolition drive, they were in reality trying only to sabotage it, the Chief Minister alleged.

The Revenue Minister said there would be more demolitions in Munnar and warned the Opposition of certain isolation if they do not support the Government initiatives in Munnar.

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