Malappuram: Koodaranji panchayat has sent letters to various departments seeking documents related to the clearances granted to controversial PVR Entertainment Natural Park at Kakkadampoyil owned by PV Anwar, the CPM-backed independent MLA from Nilambur.
The move follows a recommendation by the seven-member sub-committee of the panchayat council that looked into the allegations against the park. On the other day, the panchayat had decided to scrutinize the documents of the park which was allegedly constructed by encroaching public land. Contrary to the stand taken by the state and district Congress leaderships, the UDF-led panchayat council had publicly supported the MLA in the land grab row.
Earlier, the panchayat gave green signal to the park following the recommendations of a panchayat sub-committee which inspected the park. In its report, the committee stated that the park had all the necessary clearances. It also felt that the park would be beneficial for the panchayat. The committee visited the park on 11 June, ahead of giving license to it. Besides panchayat president and Congress members, the representatives of the CPM and the panchayat secretary were also present in the sub-committee.
The park had the fire and safety certificate and the clearances from State Pollution Control Board and electrical department, noted the committee. It suggested that the park should renew the clearance certificate from the electrical department. In its report, the sub-committee asked the panchayat council to verify the documents related to the clearances. Based on this report, the UDF-ruled panchayat issued license to the park.
The park hit headlines recently following allegations that Anwar encroached public land to build the water theme park. There are reports that the park is situated in an ecologically fragile zone. Besides this, Kakkadampoyil is one of the areas identified by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority as highly prone to natural disasters. The authority had even warned against digging pits for rainwater harvesting in the area as there is an increased chance of landslides. But these warnings were thrown to the winds in the case of the water theme park owned by the legislator. The park was constructed by razing the hill sides in the area.
Despite controversies, the Koodaranji panchayat decided not to withdraw the license given to the park. Instead, it constituted a sub-committee to inquire into the allegations.
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