<p>The operation began early in the morning with police protection. The drive began a week after the KR Puram tahsildar passed an order saying that the seminary of a Catholic Church at Carmelram near Doddakannalli had encroached half an acre of the tank-bed. <br /><br />According to revenue officials, the church had encroached 21 guntas of the lake spread over nine acres and 17 guntas. <br /><br />The encroachment came to light during a survey conducted in the wake of the High Court order to protect government lakes.<br /><br />The Church authorities were aggrieved that the action was initiated without bringing the court order to their knowledge. <br /><br />Protesting the move, Fr Thomas Vettikuzhiyil, the rector of the seminary, said the property was in the possession of the Church since 1964 and taxes were being paid since then.</p>
<p>The operation began early in the morning with police protection. The drive began a week after the KR Puram tahsildar passed an order saying that the seminary of a Catholic Church at Carmelram near Doddakannalli had encroached half an acre of the tank-bed. <br /><br />According to revenue officials, the church had encroached 21 guntas of the lake spread over nine acres and 17 guntas. <br /><br />The encroachment came to light during a survey conducted in the wake of the High Court order to protect government lakes.<br /><br />The Church authorities were aggrieved that the action was initiated without bringing the court order to their knowledge. <br /><br />Protesting the move, Fr Thomas Vettikuzhiyil, the rector of the seminary, said the property was in the possession of the Church since 1964 and taxes were being paid since then.</p>
