Govt to take possession of encroached land: Achuthanandan

Kochi, Apr 22 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the government would take possession of encroached peaces of land in Kovalam, Munnar, Mathikettanmala, Puyamkutti and other places and warned of stringent action against those indulging in such illegal activity irrespective of party affiliations.

Talking to mediapersons at Aluva near here, Mr Achuthanandan said the government was taking adequate measures to take possession of the encroached land and the revenue department was looking into the matter.

He said the government had started the eviction process in Kovalam and had taken possession of 2.5 acres of encroached land.

Mr Achuthanandan alleged that during the previous United Democratic Front's (UDF) rule, the relatives of Congress leader Oommen Chandy and former Minister K M Mani were behind this illegal activity in Kovalam.

''The relatives of Mr Mani got illegal title deeds of around 5,000 acres of land in Mathikettanmala and huge forest area in Pooyamkutti,'' Mr Achuthanandan alleged.

Reacting to Congress-led UPA government's policy to reduce import duty on agriculture products, Mr Achuthanandan said the move would adversely affect the interest of farmers in the country.

''Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh was cheating the people of Kerala by announcing that the price of coconuts will be increased,'' he alleged.

Mr Achuthanandan said the Centre's move to reduce the import duty on palm oil would be detrimental to the interests of the coconut farmers in the state.

UNI