Mystery surrounds construction of Anto Augustine’s house in Wayanad; One floor on paper, 3 floors in reality

Kalpetta: Questions have been raised over alleged irregularities in the construction of Anto Augustine’s house at Vazhavatta in Wayanad. The Muttil panchayat issued a stop memo in 2022 after finding that the building had been constructed in violation of Disaster Management Authority norms and permissible height regulations. Although the panchayat reportedly informed that the construction could not be regularised, no further action was taken.

While the building is actually three storeys high, the panchayat’s building certificate records only one floor.

The certificate states that the building was constructed in 2012. However, regulations under the Disaster Management Act came into force only in 2015. This has raised suspicion that the building may have been shown as having been constructed in 2012 to circumvent the restrictions that came into effect later.

Local residents claim that Anto Augustine did not own the land at the time and that the actual construction took place in 2015-16.

The Excise Department’s custody report submitted to the court also points to several alleged irregularities in the construction of the building. The department suspects that illicit liquor was manufactured at the site, which it has described as an unauthorised construction.

In light of these allegations and discrepancies in the records, there is a demand for the Local Self-Government Department to order a detailed inquiry into the matter.