The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) seems in no mood to bring down its restaurant on the banks of the Periyar river at Aluva manalppuram.
Almost a month after the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of the building, the council has decided to file a review petition in the apex court.
The Aluva Municipality had reclaimed a part of the Periyar in 2005 and the DTPC decided to construct a restaurant there for the convenience of the public coming for the Sivarathri festival. The State government sanctioned Rs.55.72 lakh to build a restaurant and beautify the manalppuram park.
The petition against the restaurant was filed by the Association for Environment Protection, Aluva.
DTPC secretary T.N. Jayasankar said that the petition would be filed within two to three days. He said that the council was not in a position to demolish the building. The apex court had asked the DTPC to demolish the restaurant within three months.
Suman Billa, Secretary, Department of Tourism, said the department had accepted the considered opinion of the DTPC while giving its nod for filing the review petition. He said that the tourism department had sanctioned the project after confirming that it had received all clearances required. Mr. Billa said that the DTPC is the nodal agency responsible for the project and the onus of maintenance is on the council.
The apex court order issued by a the Bench consisting of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde had stated that the DTPC and the Department of Tourism “conveniently avoided scrutiny of the project in the light of the parameters required to be kept in view for protection of environment of the area and the river.” “The subterfuge employed by the District Tourism Promotion Council and the Department of Tourism has certainly resulted in violation of the fundamental right to life guaranteed to the people of the area under Article 21 of the Constitution,” said the order.
