CAG raps Kerala govt, city corporations for abetting land grab, illegal constructions

  The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) of India report has found grave lapses in allowing sanctions to the controversial Pattoor land scam that brought former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and many top officials under scanner.

 

Vindicating the allegations that the builders got illegitimate privileges to erect a multi-storied apartment at Pattoor in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram during the former Congress-led government and from the city corporation, the CAG found that the building violated 21 rules. The corporation did not take any

The controversial apartment  at Pattoor, Thiruvananthapuram

measures to stall construction works even after a High Court order to stop the construction works of the flat as the builder was found to have encroached 14.4 cents of poramboke land. The report also found grave irregularities in various land deals and construction projects including that of Secretariat Annex Complex.

The Pattoor land scam was a major controversy during the Oommen Chandy government with the Opposition targeting Chandy and his colleagues. Though a Vigilance court dismissed a plea to bring Chandy under the purview of investigation, an earlier probe by the Vigilance had found 15 officials guilty of colluding with the builder.      

 

CAG report stated that the government facilitated illegal land deals and constructions in the state. Some construction works of private hospitals and liquor bars were carried out without approval documents. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation also gave green signal to constructions that violated Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act by violating laws. The authorities failed to take action even though newly constructed multi-storied buildings posed a threat to the security of Thiruvananthapuram airport, the CAG pointed out.  

 

 Undeserving persons were included in the list of beneficiaries of social welfare funds. As many as 12% beneficiaries availing welfare pension does not deserving it. Even those above the poverty line are availing welfare pension, the report said.