Not only luxury, but also demolition of walls and cancellation of public transport
Kollam, Kerala (VSK). Since the very beginning, Nava Kerala Sadas has been drawing the attention of the people because of crores of tax payers’ money being spent for it. It started from the vehicle designed for the ostentatious visit of the entire cabinet to all the 140 assembly constituencies. The bus itself costs Rs 1.05 cr, it is reported. Now, the latest media reports are regarding the partial demolition of the compound walls of thirteen buildings; most of them are schools. The idea is to clear the way for Nava Kerala Sadas Yatra. Even after several days since the plots were used for the bus, the promises to rebuild them have not been fulfilled. Again, it is tax payers’ money (when they are executed).
Here are the details reported by the media…
In Palakad district, the wall and steps of the Nenmara Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School were partially demolished. Estimate for the reconstruction is Rs 25,000. And, eleven days are over.
The tally in Ernakulam district is three. One was in North Parur, the assembly constituency of V.D. Satheeshan, the LoP. Workers of Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) tried to stop the demolition; still it was done and it was supervised by the Tehsildar himself. There are reports that the organising committee repaired it. The second one was Mar Baselius School, Kothamangalam. The third one was a school in Perumbavoor.
In Malappuram district, the walls of three educational institutions were partially demolished.
In Thrissur district, three walls of a single institution, Mala St. Antony’s school, are partially demolished; reports suggest, reconstruction requires Rs 55,000. Thirty-four metre wall was demolished in Cheruthuruthy. Reports say, Rs 20 lakhs for the reconstruction was sanctioned. Another institution is MES Asmabi College.
In Alappuzha district, UDF-controlled municipal council rejected the application to demolish the school gate and the wall to facilitate the entry of the Cabinet bus. Still a part of the wall was demolished by some unidentified persons.
In Kottayam district, wall of a school in Ponkunnam and walls of the Pampady Grama Panchayat Grounds were demolished.
It will cost a fortune to rebuild the demolished structures when the government is struggling in nose-deep financial crisis. Media had reported recently the grave financial situation the state undergoes. Moreover, the conduct of the schools sans compound walls is a threat to the children’s safety and security.
Meanwhile, Kerala High Court slammed the government for razing compound walls. When the Additional Advocate General replied that the school authorities would rebuild the compound wall, Court said – “You are spending money from the public exchequer”.
Kerala High Court, on December 15, has stalled the Thiruvithamcoor Devaswom Board’s permission to the LDF regime to use the premises of Chakkuvalli Parabrahma temple, Kollam, for the Nava Kerala Sadas on December 18. The Court order came in the wake of the petitions filed by the Hindu Aikya Vedi and some devotees. Court said, temple premises and facilities are for temple purposes, not for anything else. Government counsel argued that the pandal near the temple would not affect the temple rituals. Pandal is 3.6 meters off the temple and is very close to the banyan tree which is considered to be a divine presence in the temple. Court had sought the details of the design of the pandal and the distance between it and the temple. High Court quoted former verdicts in connection with similar petitions. Petitioners cited the presence of flex boards in and around the temple premises. The Court verdict is a clear-cut order not to spare the temple premises for LDF government programme. The petitioners had argued that the Sadas would affect the “pathrandu vilakku” ritual (12 lamps) in the temple.
Public transport system is badly hit too. KSRTC’s 31 buses are reportedly deployed for Nava Kerala Sadas. They are drafted from the busy routes of Chengannur, Pathanamthitta and Tiruvilla. It is reported that buses from the nearby depots are also likely to be deployed. Again, the common passengers, who solely depend on KSRTC buses, will be the victims after all.
Another shocking report is from Karakkonam, Thiruvananthauram where paddy fields are filled for Nava Kerala Sadas. LDF government has accepted the protection of paddy fields as one of their basic tenets. Still, it happens.
The Nava Kerala Sadas causes controversies after controversies; never-ending controversies.
