The Kerala Karshaka Sanghom (KKS) has taken strong exception to Mount Zion Educational and Charitable Society’s announcement that it will construct an airstrip at Aranmula Puncha.
Talking to The Hindu here on Monday, Karshaka Sanghom zonal vice president Shaji Chacko said there was every reason to suspect a hidden understanding between the Revenue officials and the society to protect the latter’s “unholy interests” in Aranmula Puncha.
Mr. Chacko alleged that the Taluk Land Board (TLB) order declaring 293 acres of land in the possession of society chairman K.J. Abraham alias Abraham Kalamannil as excess land and to take over the same in a time-bound manner itself was a sad testimony to this hidden understanding.
In its order issued on August 1, the TLB that was chaired by Additional District Magistrate had directed the Revenue officials concerned to take possession of the excess land, invoking the relevant provisions in the Kerala Land Reforms Act, in seven days.
Mr. Chacko, who is also the former convener of the all-party Anti-Airport Action Council, alleged that the Revenue Department had failed to comply with the TLB direction of August 1 to take over the excess land in seven days, giving enough time for the society to safeguard its interests.
Eventually, Mr. Kalamannil moved the Kerala High Court against the TLB order and secured a stay order against the TLB order on August 14.
Earlier too, the TLB had declared 132 ha of land in the possession of Mr. Kalamannil as excess land in May, 2013. The 132 ha of excess land include 232 acres of land purchased by the KGS Group in Aranmula, Kidangannur, and Mallappuzhasserry villages.
The High Court had stayed that order too directing the TLB to hear the KGS company also before taking a final decision on the excess land issue.
Interestingly, it took four years and three months for the TLB to take a decision on the matter, leaving enough room for public apprehension over the very credibility of the official machinery, Mr Chacko alleged.
Stream restoration
Mr Chacko alleged that the restoration of the illegally converted natural stream, Karimaramthode is yet to be completed despite the court order issued to that effect three years ago. The wanton conversion of the environmentally sensitive and biodiversity-rich Aranmula Puncha in the name of an air strip had taken place way back in 2004, he said.
