Kerala Govt holds back NoC for accepting land tax of pvt group

Under attack from CPI-M led LDF opposition, UDF government in Kerala today announced freezing of a recent no objection certificate (NoC) to accept tax for 786 acres of 'controversial' land attached to a private plantation group near Nelliyampathi Forest Range.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy made the announcement in the Assembly when the issue related to the Karuna Estate of Popson group in Palakkad district was raked up by the opposition in the form of a notice for an adjournment motion.
He said a three-member committee has been formed to look into all aspects, including violation of forest rules, outside pressure and any ulterior motive in issuing of the order by a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO).

Asserting that the Government would protect its interest and would act only according to law, he said the committee's report would be placed in the Assembly before the end of the current session, scheduled to last till July 17.
Seeking leave of the House for the motion, A K Balan (CPI-M) alleged it was clear case of forest and revenue lands being grabbed by land mafia using fabricated documents.
Balan wanted the government to quash the NoC and said it should order a probe to find out how the officer issued such an order in favour of the plantation while a case related to the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.

Replying to the notice, Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the NoC was issued after a high-level committee looked into the matter and after getting due legal advise.

The NoC was conditional and not conclusive. It had been made clear that if any anomalies were found in the documents presented before the committee, authorities were free to take action.
Radhakrishnan also said the land did not belong to part of vested forest area and it was outside the forest region.
He brought to the notice of the house, the concern expressed by two ruling front MLA's on the NoC issued to plantation group.

Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan (CPI-M) asked the government to come clean on the issue.