The Panachikkad grama panchayat in Kottayam on Wednesday courted controversy after the local body directed one of its residents to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the SilverLine authorities for carrying out extension work on his house as the property fell within the proposed area of the K-Rail project
With the move evoking strong public reaction, the directive had been withdrawn and the applicant was accorded the requisite permission on Wednesday.
The applicant, Jimmi Easho Mathew of Kollad, had approached the panchayat for a permit to construct an additional floor for his house about four months ago. While inspecting the site, the panchayat authorities found that the survey number of the property came under the purview of the semi-high-speed rail project and pointed out that the work would require an NOC from the special tahsildar (land acquisition) for the SilverLine project
Based on the finding, the panchayat secretary issued a letter, addressing the tahsildar, requesting the official to grant the NOC. It has since remained undecided despite repeated follow-ups.
As soon as the issue came out in the public on Wednesday, CPI(M) workers staged a protest in front of the panchayat office here accusing the panchayat secretary of conspiring with the United Democratic Front (UDF) to fuel the anti-SilverLine protests. In view of the mounting protests, the panchayat secretary withdrew the order.
When contacted, K-Rail authorities clarified that there were no such restrictions in place as the agency was yet to take hold of any of these properties. “What is taking place now is just the Social Impact Assessment of the project. We have no idea as to why the panchayat secretary issued such a direction,” said a K-Rail official.
