Even as melodies penned by P. Bhaskaran rang out on the premises of the Kerala State Central Library as part of the Summer School under way there, ugly scenes were being played out in one corner of the area on Saturday morning.
The police had to intervene after members of the Public Library Protection Council objected to the Kerala State Library Council starting work on its building on land leased out by the government to it for 30 years. The council had deployed an earth mover for starting the ground work, and this did not go down well with the protection council. Tense scenes unfolded as both sides argued their cases. At one point, a scuffle too broke out.
As there was no stay on the work, the police gave the go-ahead for it to continue.
The library council said the work was being carried out on 20 cents on which its building had stood earlier. The council was functioning on a rented premises since its old building was pulled down for a new one. However, owing to litigation, work remained pending till a government order in August last year gave the council the land for an annual lease rent of ₹1,000.
The move of the protection council was motivated by vested interests and was regrettable, the council said.
The long-drawn out legal battle over the land is far from over though. The protection council had in December last year filed a writ petition against the government order.
Report sought
A report from the government too had been sought, the council said. However, with the courts closed, the library council started work on the land.
State Central Librarian P.K. Shobhana said the library had received permission from the government for building a library heritage museum, and funds had been allocated for the building and some other projects in the Budget this year. Discussions had been held with the PWD’s architecture wing too about the building plan.
The plan was to start a reading room, a research space, and e-books in the new building.
