Idukki: The construction of the CPM area committee office building in Santhanpara is alleged to be in violation of the land assignment rules. Even though the village officer has issued two stop memos, construction activities continue unabated. Notably, this building is situated alongside the Munnar-Kumily state highway.

As per the rules, NOC from the revenue department is mandatory for constructing a house in any of the seven villages in the Devikulam taluk. However, no NOC has been issued for the CPM area committee office building in Santhanpara. The first floor of the building is set aside for commercial use. All these are blatant violations of the land assignment rules.

The village officer had issued two stop memos addressed to district secretary C V Varghese inorder to halt the construction of the area committee building. However, CV Varghese has stated that “drawing comparison between the issue and Mathew Kuzhalnadan controversy does not make any sense.”