The Hindu : Kerala News : No haste in de-notifying Ponmudi estate: Viswom

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Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007
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No haste in de-notifying Ponmudi estate: Viswom

Special Correspondent

Tells UDF to explain how the estate changed hands in 2005

Government has not taken any decision in the matter
‘More on the subject only after Thursday’s meeting’

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has said there was no ‘ugly haste’ in de-notifying the Merchiston Estate at Ponmudi, a part of which was sought to be sold to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Viswom said though Xavy Mano Mathew, the person claiming to own the estate, which had been notified as ‘ecologically fragile’ in 2000, had submitted an application for de-notification under provisions of the Kerala Forests (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act of 2003 on March 30, the Government had still not issued the revised notification, though the proceedings of the Custodian of Forests had been issued. According to rules framed under the Act, the decision on any application for de-notification of land notified as ecologically fragile should be taken within three months of receipt of such application. Although five months have lapsed now, the Government has not taken any decision in the matter. There was, therefore, no basis for the Opposition charge that there was ‘ugly haste’ in the matter, he said.

Mr. Viswom said he had convened a meeting to discuss the trade unions’ complaint that the 2000 notification was hampering the functioning of the estate on the basis of a letter forwarded to him by the Labour Minister. When the meeting began, Mr. Mathew had complained that he was not being allowed to cut down trees for use as firewood. The forest officials present at the meeting made it clear that the Government had nothing against his steps aimed at smooth functioning of the factory, but advised him that his claim to ownership of the estate must be confirmed through legal means. The labour issue might have been raised with the intention of facilitating the land transaction as was happening in many parts of Kerala, the Minister said.

He said it was for the United Democratic Front (UDF) to explain how the estate changed hands in 2005. The Government, he said, was looking into all aspects of the case and that he would be able to say more on the subject only after Thursday’s meeting by when the picture would become clear.

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