Armed with the mandate of an all-party meeting held here on Friday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy ordered removal of encroachments on government land at the hill station of Munnar within two weeks.
Chandy said all persons who have encroached on government land for trade or other purposes would be forcibly evicted if they fail to comply with the government's two-week notice. He, however, said the government would be liberal towards poor settlers who had used the land to build houses.
Chandy said tribals who had encroached on land at Chinnakanal would be rehabilitated. Before eviction, the tribals, who are now living in makeshift tents, would be taken to areas earmarked for rehabilitation.
“We want to provide them better environment. We will convince them to move out of Chinnakanal,” he said.
Chandy said those settled in Munnar before January 1, 1977, would be given title deeds within a year. “The revenue minister has taken up the challenge to complete removal of encroachments within a year. If he achieves the goal, I will gift him a gold ring,” he said.
The all-party meeting also agreed to extend kuthaka pattayam, but it has to be used only for cardamom cultivation. The meeting was told that the tourism department had prepared a master panel to develop an eco-friendly and modern Munnar. There’s also a proposal to constitute Munnar Conservation Authority.
On the CPI demand for a new law, Chandy said for now, the government would continue with the ordinance brought by LDF. If required, changes would be made in consultation with the revenue minister, he said.
‘We’ll kick land mafia out’
The UDF government’s two-week notice to encroachers in Munnar is basically targeted at the land mafia.
Revenue minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said massive encroachment had taken place in Munnar over the past year.
“Influential groups and people have captured prime government land in and around the hill station and constructed resorts and hotels. We will not allow this. We have asked them to clear out in two weeks or face stern action,” he said.
“We will protect agriculturists and provide land to landless tribals,” the Minister said.
The government is considering drafting a bill as an ordinance promulgated by the previous LDF dispensation covers only 1,000 acres.
“The area in Munnar is much bigger. Hence, we are thinking of a draft bill,” he said.