What is delaying the construction of the Lulu Mall in Thrissur district, Kerala? Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali said on Sunday that the delay was due to the intervention of a political party. The mall was expected to become operational in Kerala's cultural capital two and a half years ago, but the project was derailed after a political worker moved court with what Yusuff Ali termed an unnecessary case.
The Thrissur Lulu Mall was expected to provide jobs to 3,000 people, Yusuff Ali said, before adding that construction would resume once the obstacles were removed. Reports stated that the case was filed against Lulu only after the land had been acquired and construction work had begun.
Meanwhile, the man who filed the case against the construction of the mall came forward, identifying himself as a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI), the second-largest constituent of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The man, identified as T.N. Mukundan, told the Malayalam press that the legal battle was a personal decision and that his party was not involved. He said he decided to approach the court after learning that paddy fields were being converted for the construction, according to Asianet News.
The agrarian Kerala has passed laws to protect paddy fields and wetlands from being destroyed or converted for other purposes.
Mukundan decided to come forward after Yusuff Ali revealed the reason for the delay. A local committee member of the CPI, Mukundan identified himself as the man mentioned by the billionaire. A plot of about one acre adjoining the Hyatt Regency in Puzhakkal had been identified by the Lulu Group for the mall. This land formed part of the paddy fields in Pannikkara Kini.
Mukundan said he approached the court when the owners began removing mud and clay from the land with the geologist’s permission, Asianet reported. Following his complaint, the geologist’s permit was cancelled.
When Lulu started building a wall and digging a pond, Mukundan complained to the village officer and the agriculture officer. A stop memo was then issued. Later, a statutory fee of ₹8.8 crore was paid to the government by the company for the land conversion. The complaint regarding the conversion was placed before the district collector, and when the collector called a hearing, the Lulu Group challenged it in the High Court. Mukundan also joined the case.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswan reportedly clarified that the party was not backing the Kisan Sabha leader in this legal battle.