Violations cited against Kerala MLA’s theme park

Thiruvananthapuram: Only days after the resignation of Kerala transport minister, Thomas Chandy over allegations of land encroachment and illegal land-use, P.V. Anwar, a Left-backed MLA in the state is accused of running a water theme park in Kozhikode district without proper sanctions.

Anwar, who represents the Nilambur constituency in Malappuram district, is also facing allegations of not having filed income tax returns for a decade.

The complaint that he had not done so, was filed by one Murugesh Narendran after accessing documents through the Right to Information Act. The income tax department has not confirmed the allegation.

The development brings fresh trouble to the ruling Left Democratic Front, which was seen to be dithering when allegations about land encroachment mounted against former transport minister Thomas Chandy.

The Communist Party of India Marxist and the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan backed Chandy to the hilt, and the resignation came only after an unprecedented move by the Communist Party of India ministers to stay away from the weekly cabinet meeting on the ground that Chandy was participating in it.

To add to Anwar’s troubles, local media have reported that his water theme park does not have the formal approvals from the health department. Because the main activities in the park are all water-related, an approval form the health department is mandatory to run such a theme park.

In a clarification, the Kozhikode district medical officer has said the park has not submitted the no-objection certificate.

The charges against the water theme park are already under consideration of the Kerala High Court. Earlier, it had been alleged that the park was functioning without permission from the state pollution control board.