Dispute over bus station continues

KOCHI: Even after one year of its launch, Fort Kochi bus station is caught in an ‘ownership’ row.Confusion persists over the ownership of a portion of the bus station, following objections raised by a private party. The strange dispute has prevented the local body from allowing it to commission the station, which was opened by the previous Corporation a few hours before the announcement of local body elections.The Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Kochi, K P Mohanadasan Pillai who had issued a stop order directing the private party to suspend construction activities, had sent a letter to tahsildar to conduct a survey of the land.  Interestingly, the tahsildar had replied stating that it was not in possession of the sketch of the land and the details were with the Corporation, sources said.S Shawnawas, who has taken charge as the new RDO, says he needed time to study the matter.However, the Corporation is not in possession of the sketch of the area. The Corporation officials say they need one week to find the real owner of the disputed land.According to the tahsildar, the survey can be conducted by the taluk surveyor provided the local body paid fees and gave the sketch of the area. The bus station was opened in a haste by the previous administration without getting a clearance from the Regional Transport Officer (RTO). It was while trying to get the clearance from the RTO that the new issue surfaced in May.A civilian residing near the bus station says the Corporation has encroached upon his land a few months ago. Claiming ownership over the portion of disputed land, he started constructing a sidewall to which the RDO intervened and issued a stop memo at the instance of the Corporation.Expressing concern over the delay in solving the issue, Austin Paul, IFCHAT president, said it was a clear case of ignorance shown by the administration in handling the issue.