Corpn. opposes notification of land for Canal Walk project

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUL. 27. The Government decision to notify 32 square kilometres of land in five revenue villages as `controlled area' for the Canal Walk project has opened up a new battlefront in the political tussle between the Government and the City Corporation. Addressing a press conference here today, the Mayor, Prof. J. Chandra, said the notification would freeze all development activities in the area and affect the livelihood of the local people.

She said the UDF Government had not bothered to discuss the project with the Corporation though a major section of the survey numbers included in the notification were within the Corporation boundary. She said the project to develop the banks of the Parvathy Puthanar canal for tourism was only in the nascent stages. "There has been no follow-up action on the part of the Government to finalise the project details," she said.

The notification covering 32 sq. km in the Attipra, Cheruvakkal, Kadakampally, Palkulangara, Iranimuttom and Muttathara villages prohibits construction or alteration of buildings and the removal of earth, stone or materials without permission from the Development Authority.

The notification issued by the Local Self Government Department states that the Canal Walk project is aimed at renovating 16 km of land along the banks of the Parvathy Puthanar canal connecting the tourism centres of Akkulam and Kovalam and developing the area into a natural garden. It says that an amount of Rs. 50 lakhs had been earmarked for the scheme in the current year's budget. The notification adds that the project area is to be declared as controlled area to restrict further land development.

Later in the day, in an apparent bid to clear the apprehensions over the project, the Government issued a press release clarifying that there is no freeze on the land earmarked for the Canal Walk project. The pressnote quoting the Secretary for Local Administration and Urban Development said there was no restriction on sale of land or authorised construction. It added that construction would be authorised by the Development Authority.

The pressnote said the Cooperation Minister, Mr. M.V. Raghavan, and the Local Administration Minister, Mr. Cherkalam Abdulla, had held discussions to sort out the confusion over the project. It said the Government had issued an order to acquire only 50 acres of land in the Kadakampally village for the project. Interestingly, on Friday, Mr. Abdulla while inaugurating the development seminar of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had declared that there was no proposal to acquire any land for the project.

The pressnote issued today said the residents in the project area would benefit from the improved environment, job opportunities and economic prospects. It said the scheme would be implemented with public participation. The pressnote added that the notification declaring 32 sq. km as controlled area was the first phase of the project. It goes on to say that the project details would be published in the next phase. The implementation stage will start only after eliciting public response, it adds.

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Section  : Southern States
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