Kannur, Thursday 15 July 2010: The Central Ministry of Environment and Forests has instructed to stop the working of Kandal Theme Park built on the banks of Valapattanam River at Pappinisseri in Kannur, as the study team appointed by the centre has found that the construction of the Park was done violating the Shore Protection Act.

The study team had visited the Park on June 11 as per the instruction of Ministry of Environment and Forests. The orders were issued on Wednesday after the site visit by officials on the request of area MP K. Sudhakaran.

The chairman of the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority was directed to visit the project site, along with officials of Kerala forest department and the Centre for Earth Science Studies to ‘assess the damage/destruction carried out in the area’.

The ministry has sought their report within 15 days.

Kandal Theme Park was constructed by Eco Tourism Society under the control of CPM. Valappattanam River banks come under the limits of Coastal Regulation Zone-1 which restricts any type of construction on the banks. If any indispensable construction has to be done, the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Forests must be sought.

Only on the basis of this, the state Department of Science and Technology can accept the application.

The study team in their report has stated that no such application for construction of the Park was given to Department of Science and Technology.

(With News agency inputs)