Munnar to come under Special Zone

Thiruvananthapuram, May 9 (UNI) The Kerala government, in a bid to check illegal encroachment and safeguarding the hilly tract of Munnar, has decided to bring Munnar and its surrounding areas under a Special Zone.

A Special Officer and a police force was entrusted by the government to evict all the encroachers from the region.

An ordinance for forming the Special Zone would be promulagted soon, Chief Minister V S Achutanandan told reporters after a cabinet meeting here today.

Approving the report of the Principal Secretary (Land Revenue) Nivedita P Haran on the encroachments, the Cabinet enthrusted a Special Officer Suresh Kumar and a 400-strong police force headed by Inspector General of Police Rishiraj Singh with taking necessary action on the basis of the report.

A Cabinet sub-committee under the Chairmanship of Revenue Minister K P Rajendran would coordinate the functions of the Special Officer and the police team, Mr Achutanandan said and hoped that they would complete the task in three months.

It was also decided to replace Idukki District Collector A J Rajan with the present Kottayam District Collector Raju Narayana Swamy, he added.

Stressing that all the encroachers, irrespective of political affiliation, would be evicted from the government land, he said all the present revenue officials -- RDOs, village officers and Tahalsidars -- would be removed and new persons appointed. Strong action, including suspension and dismissal, would be taken against the officials, who had helped the encroachers, he added.

Asked if a vigilance probe would be initiated against the officials, he said the report was already there and it was time for action now.

The Revenue Principal Secretary had submitted the report on the encroachments and illegal constructions in Munnar area and put forth many suggestions to the government yesterday.

Meanwhile, police, revenue and forest officials have swung into action and demolished illegal constructions.

Another decision taken by the cabinet was in regard to the Vidharba model Agriculture package in Palakkad, Wayanad and Kasargode districts, he said and added a committee under the Chief Secretary would be entrusted with its implementation.

The government had also decided to make use of the potential of wind energy and had appointed ANERT as the Nodal agency for implementation.

It was also decided to accord the status of Deemed university to Kerala Kalamandalm, he said adding the cabinet had approved the Memorandum of Association.

UNI