Kerala High Court on Wednesday reserved its orders on a petition filed by Kanan Devan company of Tata Tea challenging the show cause notice issued to it by Idukki district authorities on demolition of check dams constructed by the company at its estate in the hill station of Munnar.
When the petition came up, Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair ordered that status quo be maintained till orders are passed.
The collector on January 29 issued a show cause notice to the company asking it to explain reasons for not demolishing the check dams and electric fencing. The company had said the government’s action was illegal.
Acting on a petition by the company, challenging the notice, the judge on February five ordered status quo on proceedings till Tuesday.
Yesterday, the court had ordered status quo for a day on the proposed action against check dams.
The Kerala cabinet had last week decided to demolish check dams as part of its drive to clear all encroachments even if it involves tourist resorts.
A cabinet sub-committee had said the dams built in the Lekshmi estate of Kannan Devan had affected flow of water to hydel reservoirs in the area and violated the lease agreement.
The company has told the court that demolition of check dams should be avoided and they were prepared to hand them over to the government.
