Opposition stages walkout over Munnar eviction issue

Thiruvananthapuram, June 20 (UNI) The Congress-led Opposition staged a walkout in the Kerala Assembly today alleging attempts on the part of the government to sabotage the on-going eviction of encroachers from government land and demolition of unauthorised structures in the hill station of Munnar and surrounding areas.

Speaking on an adjournment motion sought to be moved in this regard, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy declared support to the government in the eviction process, but warned of strong action against the move to exempt political party offices from the eviction.

Extending wholehearted support to regain encroached government land, he said all encroachers irrespective of their political affiliations and big companies like the Tata Tea Limited should not be exempted from eviction if they had occupied government land.

Seeking leave for the motion, Mr V D Satheesan (Cong) alleged attempts on the part of Revenue Minister K P Rajendran to sabotage the eviction process.

He wanted cancellation of 'Pattas' (title deeds) issued by Deputy Tahsildar Ravindran in 1999, while Mr Rajendran's party colleague K E Ismail was the Revenue Minister. All these title deeds were to legalise encroachments on government land, he alleged.

Replying to notice for the motion, Mr Rajendran said over 10,000 acres of encroached land had already been evicted and 91 illegal structures demolished in Munnar and surrounding areas. The process would continue with more vigour and there was no need for any apprehension about it, he added.

Mr Rajendran said 91 cases had been registered in connection with the encroachments on the basis of the findings of the Vigilance Department.

He also said a survey was on with the assistance of the National Remote Sensing Agency to ascertain the land held by the Tata Tea Company in Munnar and action would be taken against it if it had grabbed government land.

Speaker K Radhakrishnan refused leave for the motion in the light of the minister's reply.

UNI