HC stays directive to close down Mangrove Park

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted permission to open the Mangrove Theme Park at Pappinissery under certain conditions. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice P N Raveendran stayed the order of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to close down the Mangrove Park at Pappinissery. The court issued the stay while considering an appeal filed by the Pappinissery Eco Tourism Society questioning the Central Government order to close down the park.

  The stay was granted considering the fact that the version of the Pappinissery Eco Tourism Society was not sought before ordering the closure of the park. The Assistant Solicitor-General, who appeared for the Central Government, submitted that a prior notice seeking the version of the society was not given as it was not needed under the Environment Protection Law.

 The High Court directed the park authorities not to undertake any commercial or construction activities  in the park. The court also ordered that neither the complete property nor any portion of it should be transferred. There should not be any liabilities in the property, the court said.

The Eco Tourism Society filed the appeal after a Single Bench directed to maintain a status quo at the Park.