Restoration of natural stream: Collector to seek legal opinion

HC directive to restore natural stream at Aranmula

District Collector S. Harikishore has decided to seek legal opinion from the district pleader on the Kerala High Court order to restore the natural stream, Karimaramthodu, that comes under site identified for the controversial private airport at Aranmula to its original state.

The court order was on the basis of a petition filed by V. Mohanan from Aranmula seeking a judicial intervention for the restoration of the illegally converted natural stream that had led to water logging of the Aranmula Puncha.

In its order issued on June 16, 2014, the High Court had ordered the Collector to take necessary steps to restore Karimaramthodu to its original state.

In an order issued on January 15, the High Court Bench of Justice A.M. Shefique had ordered contempt of court proceedings against the Collector for not implementing its order to restore the natural stream.

Mr. Harikishore said he could not file a counter-affidavit before the court as the staff concerned at the Collectorate had failed to convey the matter to him. The Collector said he has already sought an explanation from the staff concerned in this regard.

Hearing held

The Collector told The Hindu that the KGS company had moved against the court order saying that the company too should be heard before taking a final decision.

According to him, the court had directed him to hear both Mr. Mohanan and the company and take an appropriate decision.

Both the parties were called for a hearing at the Collector’s chamber here on Thursday. Mr Mohanan stated before the Collector that the court had never changed its earlier stand that the natural stream be restored to its original state and hence the Collector should execute the court order in letter and spirit with out any further delay. Mr. Mohanan said he had approached the judiciary seeking implementation of the Land Revenue Commission’s order for restoration of the natural stream to facilitate paddy cultivation in Aranmula Puncha.

However, the KGS was of the stand that the government had already decided to assign the poromboke land to it.