KOCHI: The State Government’s move to set up an electronics park in an area classified under wetland at Amballoor in Piravom constituency has kicked up a row.A part of the 344 acres of land, for which a survey is going on for land acquisition, falls under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008. The project will be undertaken by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). To fill a paddy field or wetland for industrial purpose, the demarcated area has to be declared an industrial area as per the Kerala Conservation of Paddy land and Wetland Act 2008. So far, such a declaration has not been made in this case.A letter from the the Agricultural Production Commissioner addressed to the Ernakulam District Collector rejects the proposal on the grounds that the land is ‘karinilam’ and cultivable. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the KSIDC and the Agricultural Officer, Krishi Bhavan, Amballoor. “The KSIDC may be directed to explore the availability of alternative dry land for the purpose,” the letter stated.Deputy Collector (Land acquisition) Mohandas said: “We have just started the survey and it is moving at a fast pace. There will be a local monitoring committee and state-level committee to monitor such issues. The 4(1) notification will be issued soon after the survey is completed,” he said.Former Piravom MLA M J Jacob said that the survey was completed during the previous government’s tenure. “I really do not know why there’s a need for another survey. The government order which was released on 9.7.2010 clearly stated that they could use the land if the two major demands - rehabilitation of evictees and land acquisition under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy land and wet land Act 2008 - are met with.District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth said that in the circumstances, the government has the power to amend the rules for public purposes. Social activist and environmentalist C N Neelakantan said that the move is completely against the 2008 Act. “The land acquired for industrial development in many areas is yet to be utilised. Such land should be made use of, rather than reclaiming paddy fields and wetlands,” he said.
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