Controversial drain built in Kodumon ignoring minister's instruction; Congress workers who stopped construction detained by police

KODUMON: The decision taken by Public Works Minister Mohammed Riyas under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar to proceed with the construction of the Ezhamkulam Kaipattoor Road by ignoring the controversial drain in front of the building of George Joseph, husband of Minister Veena George, has been subverted. The work on the drain started yesterday morning in the presence of Police. The Congress workers who came to stop them were taken into custody and kept at Kodumon police station till night. They were released after completing the work on the disputed portion.

DYFI activists came in support of the work which created tension. The controversy was that the drain road was built in front of George Joseph's building by changing the alignment. The police removed the flag that the Congress had put up earlier in protest against the change in alignment. Congress workers stopped the work by questioning this. Considering the possibility of conflict, more police were deployed. The protesters were arrested and removed.

Following a petition filed by Chittayam Gopakumar, a ministerial meeting was convened in Thiruvananthapuram with the participation of Public Works and Kerala Road Fund (KRFB) officials. Kerala Road Fund KRFB Chief Engineer was informed to visit the disputed area yesterday, but no one came. CPM district committee member and Koduman panchayat president KK Sreedharan's allegation that George Joseph tried to change Oda's alignment by threatening officials was controversial within and outside the party.