Government Land for Constructing Church in Vandiperiyar; Hindu Aikya Vedi Launches Protest

Idukki: There is said to be a move to allot government land for the construction of a church  by Assumption Church, Vandiperiyar. Sources have stated that a recent ministerial meeting held on 17 June decided on the proceedings to hand over land for construction purposes. Officials are said to have been bound by the oath of secrecy regarding the matter.

According to reports, the government move follows an appeal put forth by MLA of Peeramedu Bijimol and church vicar. The illegal move follows a ‘stop memo’ issued by collector of Idukki, after church authorities proceeded to plant cross on government land. Sources state that there is a clandestine move to donate four cents of land in the church’s name.

According to legal formalities, the district collector has to be given a certificate that states “no objection on the part of any organization or institution regarding the transfer of property”. However, Hindu Aikya Vedi had made its dissent very clear by submitting a memorandum to the collector. This had led to the issuing of a ‘stop-memo’ by the collector. But the Christian congregation retaliated by asserting that it will not permit construction of a proposed bridge in Vandiperiyar.