Withdraw 'Canal Walk' notification: LDF councillors

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 17. The LDF council party of the City Corporation has urged the State Government to withdraw the gazette notification relating to the freezing of 8,000 acres of land for the Canal Walk scheme.

Addressing a press conference here today, the leader of the LDF council party leader in the Corporation, Mr. K.C. Vikraman, said the project was only an idea at present and after selection of the area, the details of eviction could be known. Though the State Government had set aside Rs. 50 lakhs for the scheme, the LDF was of the opinion that the land should be brought under the Government's control only after the preparation of the project report and detailed discussions, Mr. Vikraman said.

Mr. Vikraman termed the Government move to bring land under its control as an ``anti-people'' policy. Residents in the 32 square kilometre area which has been declared as ``Government- controlled zone'' had not been able to construct houses or to enter into any business ventures. Moreover, no one would come forward to purchase this land, he said.

The present move was aimed at helping the real estate mafia, Mr. Vikraman said. Though the Corporation had the powers to grant permission for all construction works in this area earlier, the Chief Town Planner and TRIDA alone had the powers to approve the works in this area after the gazette notification. The Government did not even discuss this matter with the Corporation authorities before issuing the notification, he added.

Mr. Vikraman said there was difference of opinion on this matter among the UDF leaders and urged them to clarify their stand on the issue.

The LDF councillors would stage a dharna in front of the Secretariat on August 18 to protest against the notification0.

The LDF parliamentary party secretary, Mr. Kadakampally Mohanan, attended the press conference.

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