Kochi :

Getting ownership of a land in its possession for 47 years is something to be elated about. The 170-acres of land in the possession of the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), the pride of the country,  has been officially handed over to the company.

The land was in the possession of CSL since 1967. But the whole land was allotted to the entity with the government order number GO (Ms) No.252/14/RD only on June 11, 2014 as it was being allotted to the firm in a phased manner.

The shipyard adjacent to the Kochi port is the largest greenfield ship building and ship repair yard in the country. It was incorporated in 1972 as a fully-owned Government of India company.

“The CSL is situated on 170 acres of land in Kochi and the company has been using it since 1967. The ownership of land was being given to us in a phased manner. Before the latest government order, we did not have ownership of 82.21 acres of land. We are happy that we have got it. With this new order, CSL has received ownership of 82.21 acres of land,” a CSL official said.

The CSL had submitted application for assignment of the 170 acres of land in its possession. The ‘pattayam’ was given for 62.22 acres of land on January 31, 2008 and 25.57 acres on December 28, 2007. Since the remaining 82.21 acres of land comprised various survey numbers and puramboke, the ownership was not given.

“The Ernakulam District Collector has reported  that of the 82.21 acres, an area of 61.88 acres comprise 16 kinds of puramboke land such as thodu puramboke, road puramboke etc. The remaining 20.32 acres of land is neither with the Revenue Department nor  has been handed over to CSL. Hence, the land may be assigned by invoking the special powers vested with the government within Municipal and Corporation area rules 1995,” the order said.

In order to grant the ownership of the land, the government asked CSL neither to transfer the land nor to alienate it.

The land should not be utilised for any other objective other than shipbuilding and allied activities. It is also mandated that the land shall not be encumbered in any manner.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Pramod Thomas / June 21st, 2014