Resentment is brewing among the residents of Mookkunnimala over the transfer of officials who have been part of the ongoing vigilance probe in the region.
The extent of encroachment of government property and the alleged corruption in the illegal conversion of plantation land to granite quarries came under the ambit of the investigation that had commenced three years ago.
The transfers of Vigilance Circle Inspector A. Rabiyath, a day ago, and that of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP.) R.D. Ajith, two weeks ago, were being perceived as part of the alleged attempts being made by influential sections to scuttle the probe which has reached its final phase.
“The special investigating unit is likely to submit the investigation report at the Kerala High Court by this month end. They were currently in the process of ascertaining the extent of loss to the State exchequer. While we have been appreciative of the dedicated efforts that were undertaken by the team led by them, their sudden transfers have dimmed our expectations of a favourable outcome in the legal battle,” says a member of the Mookkunnimala Samrakshana Samithi that has been spearheading the agitation against rampant quarrying in the area.
An interim report that had been filed at the court in January had pegged the total area of government property encroached and granite excavated at 43.2 hectares. The team had surveyed a total area of 334 hectares (825 acres) and the total area of quarries was found to be 46.2 hectares (114.16 acres).
The team had also found that while land had been assigned for rubber cultivation, the conditions of the title deeds were violated for quarrying minerals. In the affidavit, the VACB had also stated that the land could be resumed after cancelling the ‘patta’, under the Special Rules for Assignment of Government Land for Rubber Cultivation. Illegal mining activities had been found to be undertaken in 343 acres of land that had been assigned for rubber cultivation. Moreover, the VACB also found two former District Collectors to have ‘ignored’ communications that had been made by the then Land Revenue Commissioner to take back land that were found to have been used for such activities.
Around 35 quarry owners, officials of various departments and former office-bearers of the Pallichal grama panchayat were also named as accused by the investigating team.
The agitators alleged that quarrying continued unabated in the area despite a ban being imposed on the activity. The finding that they were being undertaken within the buffer zone of the Army Firing Zone and the Radar Station of the Southern Air Command has also failed to impress upon the authorities the need to rein in such activities.
