In a major development in connection with the KGS Aranmula international airport project, District Collector S. Harikishore has decided to restore the illegally converted natural stream (puramboke thodu) at Aranmula, upholding the Land Revenue Commissioner’s order on September 10, 2013. On June 16, 2014, the Kerala High Court directed the Collector to restore the stream on the basis of a writ petition filed by Mohanan, a native of Aranmula.
Clarification
In his final report issued on Thursday, the Collector made point-by-point clarification on the grounds in which he rejected the arguments of the KGS company against restoration of the natural stream.
According to the Collector, a special team had identified illegal land conversion in the Aranmula puncha and demarcated 1.8548 hectares of the stream.
In his order, Mr. Harikishore maintained that the “government can take legal action on the puromboke land as it is not yet assigned to the KGS company. Moreover, the GO(MS) 4/2014/ Transport, dated 16-1-2013 has not stated that the puromboke land in the present condition should be given to the company.”
The report also states that restoration of the stream will not affect the interests of the KGS company. It states that the “government’s participation in the project or declaration of an area as industrial area or the merit or pendency of land ceiling case in the Taluk Land Board are all related to project approval and land matters and not related to restoration of the puramboke thodu. Hence, these arguments (of KGS) are not considered with reference to the matter regarding closing of the proceedings initiated as per the report of the Land Revenue Commissioner”.
“The KGS argument that if the puromboke thodu is restored it will affect project implementation is not appreciated at this stage because the master plan is not yet prepared and the project is not yet sanctioned,” the order said.
“It was decided not to close the proceedings initiated as per the report of the Land Revenue Commissioner, on the basis of the contentions submitted by the KGS company, and it was decided that that the District Collector can go ahead regarding implementation of the decision of the Land Revenue Commissioner to restore the puramboke thodu,” the order says.