Cabinet amends controversial order on Karuna plantations

Thiruvananthapuram: The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to not to withdraw the controversial order to accept basic tax from Karuna Plantations of Poabs group in Wayanad district as demanded by KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran.

Instead, it amended the order to the effect that tax should be accepted only after the High Court gives its order on the writ petition filed by the estate objecting to government decision to survey the land. The original order dated March 1 this year to the village officer was to accept the tax on 833 acres subject to the result of the writ petition.

The order also contained conditions that the officer should examine the documents submitted by the Poabs group in detail to establish ownership and validity of the sale transactions and their genuineness. Besides, encumbrance, if any, should be verified before accepting the tax.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the government had convened a high level meeting in view of letter from KPCC president objecting to the order. Besides officials for Revenue and Law departments, the special government pleader of the Revenue Department was also present. Reports were sought on certain issues involved.  The amendment was proposed accordingly.

The Chief Minister said that the Poabs group had ownership of 840 acres according a survey conducted by the government. Only 15 acres in the middle part of the estate belonged to Forest Department.

Mr. Sudheeran took umbrage of the decision at a meeting of the KPCC executive here on Wednesday.  The Revenue Minister had not complied with the directive of the party and the party knew how to make ministers follow party directives, he reportedly told the meeting.