Abhilash Chandran By

Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: It will be an arduous way ahead for the government to complete the procedural formalities for the airport project, taking into account the encumbrance details of Cheruvally estate. With the state government finalising Cheruvally estate at Erumeli - in possession of K P Yohannan’s Believer’s Church - for the proposed Sabarimala International Airport, it’s an arduous way ahead for the government to complete procedural formalities, taking into account the encumbrance details of the property.

Since the transaction history and title documents of the property, spread over 2,263 acres, are under shadow, land acquisition and registration will be a complicated process for the government. Harrisons Malayalam Ltd (HML) sold the land to Gospel of Asia, a trust established by K P Yohannan in 2005. The land is spread over Erumeli south and Manimala villages. However, the deal fell into trouble after the Kerala High Court, in an order on February 28, 2013, directed the government to initiate action against HML, its assignees and other intruders under the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, 1958.

Subsequently, the government constituted a land resumption wing and appointed former Ernakulam District Collector M G Rajamanickam as the special officer, who issued a final order on May 28, 2015, attaching around 29,000 acres of land in possession or transferred by HML, including Cheruvally estate.Though the Believer’s Church approached the High Court against Rajamanickam’s order, the matter is sub-judice.

Rony K Baby, chairman of the agitation council at TR and T Estate, Kanjirappally, said if the government takes a decision to acquire the land from Believer’s Church , it will be like accepting the latter’s claim on the land, which will weaken the government’s side in the High Court. “Since the government does not need the entire 2,263 acres for the project, Yohannan’s illegal possession of the remaining land will be regularised as well,” he said.

At the same time, a Vigilance inquiry report recommending a detailed inquiry into the alleged forgery of documents with regard to Cheruvally estate and the illegal sale of land will also become invalid with the government’s move. “On the basis of the Vigilance report, the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court had in 2013 directed an inquiry into the matter. But no further action was taken in this regard,” Rony said.

A top Revenue officer said the government is yet to take a decision on the further course of action with regard to the land. “In fact, a committee has recommended Cheruvally estate is convenient for the airport project. A decision on whether or not the land is to be acquired will be taken after further discussions.”

Church ready to talk, but...

Kottayam: Making its stance clear on the proposed airport project, the Believers’ Church said it was ready for any talks accepting the Church’s claim on the land. Speaking to Express over phone, Church PRO Fr Sijo Panthappallil said the Church has a positive approach towards the project. “However, certain quarters used the opportunity to defame the Church and our Metropolitan. We are ready for talks which acknowledge our ownership of the land,” he said. He also dismissed reports the Church will be given shares in the project in lieu of surrendering the land, saying no discussions were held in this regard.

Factors pointed out by the Kottayam administration