T’puram: General education minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday termed the unauthorised collection of parking fees inside the Govt SMV School campus during Attukal Pongala as illegal and unacceptable and directed that strict action be taken against those responsible. The minister said school premises should not be used for private parking and clarified that the parent-teacher association had no authority to collect parking fees from devotees. He added that the school management had been instructed to initiate strong disciplinary action against those involved in the practice.Sivankutty also said there were reports that unauthorised roadside stalls were operating near the school premises during the festival. He directed officials to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. At the same time, the minister praised the city corporation for the arrangements made during the Pongala festival and the post-event cleaning of the city. He said the civic body had effectively handled the deployment of staff and sanitation work. Meanwhile, the city corporation has announced that it will initiate stringent action against illegal parking fee collection in the city.Mayor V V Rajesh said information had been received that the PTA of Govt SMV School was involved in unlawful activities, including charging exorbitant parking fees from devotees for several years and renting out school premises to roadside eateries and other commercial establishments.Corporation has formally written to the general education department seeking strict action against the school’s PTA, the mayor said during a news conference.Highlighting the issue of illegal parking charges during the festival, Rajesh said police had already taken action against the PTA of the school for collecting unauthorised parking fees.Complaints were also received regarding excessive parking charges at two locations in Enchakkal and at Gandhi Park, which falls under the corporation’s jurisdiction. The parking contract at Gandhi Park had already been cancelled in 2023 and action will be taken against the individual involved, he said.Rajesh added that corporation would review all parking-related contracts to prevent similar violations in future. On Tuesday, Thampanoor police arrested PTA president of Govt SMV Higher Secondary School, along with an official, for allegedly collecting Rs 400 per car from devotees under the guise of a “PTA Development Fund”. Police said the collection was unauthorized and followed multiple complaints from devotees who alleged they were pressured into paying the amount.
