The State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to withdraw the sanction given to the Kumarakom Ecotourism Village, proposed to be established in the Methran Kayal area of Kumarakom, and the Medicity project, near Kadamakudy in Ernakulam district. The decision was taken as the manner in which permissions were given to reclaim large tracts of the ecologically sensitive backwaters has invited criticisms.
Addressing a post-Cabinet press meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government would inform the High Court about its decision. He said the permission given to the two projects was subject to clearance under the relevant laws. Asserting that the decisions were above board, Mr. Chandy said the only reason why the Cabinet withdrew the permission and heeded to the counsel of KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran was to avoid the inconvenience it might cause to the ruling coalition even as the State shifts to election mode. He maintained that the Kumarakom tourism resort village had been approved by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government as part of its fourth-year programmes. Asked why a project that was approved by the LDF government at the fag end of its term should be given the go ahead at the fag end of the United Democratic Front’s term, Mr. Chandy said the project proposals had undergone several transformations during the past few years, and the current proposal was eco-friendly.
The LDF government had issued several orders relating to the project, the latest being on July 17, 2010. With regard to the Smrudhi village project at Chempu village in Vaikom, the State government had given land ceiling exemption only. The projects needed to get clearances under the Kerala Paddy and Wetlands Conservation Act and the Environment Act. “It was a usual practice to give exemptions to projects under Section 81 (3) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, related to ceiling on landholdings up to 15 acres. The project clearance was subject to clearance in accordance with the provisions of the two Acts,” he maintained.
Decision welcomed
Mr. Sudheeran on Wednesday welcomed the State Cabinet decision to cancel the permission given to tourism-related projects. He had spoken to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Revenue Minister as soon as the controversy hogged the headlines.
Controversy over reclamation of ecologically sensitive
wetlands.
