Court upholds closure of Kerala’s controversial mangrove park
January 24th, 2011 - 4:43 pm ICT by IANSKochi, Jan 24 (IANS) A division bench of the Kerala High Court Monday upheld the decision of the union environment and forests ministry to close down a controversial mangrove theme park in Kannur. The ruling was given by a high court bench comprising Chief Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Thomas P. Joseph.
The central ministry in July 2010 ordered the closure of the park set up by the Pappinessery Eco-Tourism Society, which is backed by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms.
The central directive was made to the state government following uproar in the assembly by the Congress-led opposition against the construction works inside the park.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan asked the Kannur district collector to take action and the park was closed immediately. Since then the society was engaged in a legal battle.
It was the Lok Sabha member from Kannur and senior Congress leader, K. Sudhakaran, who first brought to the notice of the union environment ministry that the entire park area has over fifteen varieties of precious mangroves that needed to be protected.
Sources close to Kannur CPI-M leaders indicate that they are planning to appeal against the verdict.
- Kerala theme park society moves court against closure - Jul 21, 2010
- Kerala theme park ordered shut after opposition attack - Jul 19, 2010
- Kerala's CPI-M, Jairam Ramesh in face-off over theme park - Jul 17, 2010
- CPI-M to appeal sentencing of leader for contempt - Nov 10, 2011
- CPI-M leader in Kerala jailed for contempt of court - Nov 08, 2011
- Curbs imposed on Kerala eco-tourism project - Jul 14, 2010
- Court orders charge sheet against Kerala CPI-M leader - May 30, 2011
- CPI-M not involved in former leader's murder: Achuthanandan - May 07, 2012
- Sex scandal: Achuthanandan's plea for CBI probe dismissed - Sep 27, 2011
- Contempt proceedings ordered against Kerala CPI-M leader - Oct 12, 2010
- CPI-M seeks action on lawmaker's remark against judiciary - Feb 13, 2011
- Contempt proceedings against Kerala CPI-M leader from Nov 29 - Nov 15, 2010
- Congress MP demands reprobe into 1994 Kerala firing - Oct 16, 2011
- Chandy demands legal action against Achuthanandan - Feb 06, 2011
- Kerala High Court wants 'truth' behind Makara Jyothi light (Lead) - Jan 20, 2011
Tags: chief justice, chief minister, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, congress leader, court bench, CPI, division bench, jan 24, justice thomas, kannur district, kerala high court, lok sabha member, mangroves, norms, ruling communist party, theme park, tourism society, uproar, v s achuthanandan