Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Council to take action against land conversion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation Council that met here on Saturday decided to take stern action to check illegal reclamation and conversion of land.

Councillors cutting across party lines highlighted the need to control the activities of builders and real estate developers who reclaimed wetlands and paddy fields with scant regard for the environment. They alleged that mafia groups were intimidating local people who tried to resist the illegal conversion of land and waterbodies.

Health standing committee chairman G.R. Anil said conversion of land was rampant in the outlying wards of the city. This had blocked natural drainage channels, leading to flooding of houses during the rains. Mr. Anil said the conversion of land was playing havoc with the environment. He alleged that reclamation activities had been stepped up in the recent past in anticipation of the enactment of the paddy fields and wetlands conservation Act. He said most of the reclamation was being carried out without the mandatory approval of the Corporation.

Poundukadavu ward councillor Veli Varghese said large chunks of land bordering the Thettiyar canal were being filled up, along with ponds and canals. Alleging that real estate developers with clout and money power were appropriating government land, he called for urgent measures to recover this land and initiate criminal proceedings against encroachments. Mr. Varghese also accused the district administration of turning a blind eye to the illegal activities.

Deputy Mayor V. Jayaprakash said parts of Akkulam lake were being reclaimed by the rapacious real estate lobby. Intervening in the debate, Mayor C. Jayan Babu said the Corporation was empowered to stop conversion of land. He said the Town Planning Officer would be directed to take stern action against illegal reclamation. “The standing committee on Town Planning has to remain vigilant against such cases.” Mr. Babu said the government and the Revenue Department would be asked to look into the matter and take steps to check the indiscriminate conversion of land.

Poojappura ward councillor K. Maheswaran Nair moved a resolution highlighting the problems caused by the delay in resurfacing the roads dug up for laying pipes under the Japan Bank for International Cooperation scheme. He said 240 km of roads in the Corporation area and 200 km in the rural areas were dug up. “Motorists, traders and people living on the roadsides are put to much difficulty,” he said.

Mr. Nair said the contractors had violated the agreement to repair the roads immediately after the pipes were laid. The delay had resulted in a huge loss to the Corporation. He called for stern action against those responsible for the failure.

The Mayor said he would convene a meeting of the officials concerned to sort out the issue.

The Council decided to avail itself of a loan of Rs.7.07 crore from the Kerala Urban Development Finance Corporation to take possession of the garbage treatment plant at Vilappilsala from the private operators.

Moving a resolution on the issue, the Mayor said the decision to avail of the loan was taken in view of the urgent need to take over the plant and the inability to mobilise funds from other sources. He said the compensation amount was fixed by a committee appointed by the government.

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