Date:24/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052408750300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Two cottages demolished at Punnamada Resort

Staff Reporter

More resorts to face action in the coming days

GOVERNMENT ACTION: Portions of the Punnamada Resort in Alappuzha being demolished on Wednesday.

ALAPPUZHA: Revenue authorities on Wednesday targeted the Punnamada Resorts, charging it with encroaching on Government land. The resort, which had first shot into limelight when legislators from Jharkand sought refuge there during a political crisis in that State, was charged with illegal possession of more than half-an-acre of Government land.

The district-level Special Task Force (STF) led by Ambalapuzha additional tahsildar P.H. Abdul Gafoor said at least two of the honeymoon cottages in the resort, along with the accompanying swimming pools, would have to be demolished for being erected on Government land.

A restaurant, which was nearing completion on the Resort premises, would also face demolition, as it was found to be coming up on Government land. The resort came in the firing line for allegedly occupying Government `kayal' land, filling it up with mud and then constructing concrete structures on it, officials said.

Interestingly, the Resort authorities themselves had begun demolition of the honeymoon cottages and the swimming pools by the time the STF reached the premises. Even as the officials gave the resort a deadline of 24 hours to demolish the upcoming restaurant, failing which Government earth movers would be pressed into service, there was no clarity as to whether the reclaimed land would restored as `kayal' land.

The resort, according to officials, had built small bridges across three public canals that passed through the premises apart from restricting "public movement" through one public road that also passed through the resort. Water transport through the area had been obstructed by the bridges. "We have asked them to demolish the bridges. If they do not do that, we will do it and restore water transport for the public through the area," the officials said. With Wednesday's action against Punnamada Resort, the district STF's drive against `kayal' encroachments had been set in motion, the officials said, adding that the ensuing days would see more such resorts facing action.