Govt fixes Aug 31 as deadline for lease arrears

Thiruvananthapuram, July 5 (UNI) Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran told the State Assembly today that government land given on lease would be taken back if the lessees failed to pay lease arrears by the August 31 deadline.

Replying to a submission by Mr P C George (KC-S), he said land given to clubs and institutions would also be taken back if they violated the lease agreements.

Answering another submission by Prof K V Thomas (Cong), Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said poor families residing on the banks of the Perandur canal in Kochi city would not be evicted until alternate sites were found for their rehabilitation.

He said the Kochi Municipal Corporation initiated the eviction proceedings as it had to comply with a High Court order. However, it had given time till August 11 for vacating the encroachments.

UNI