11,000 acres of govt land retrieved in drive: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, July 17 (UNI) Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran told the state assembly today that a total of 11,035 acres of government land had been retrieved from encroachers since the anti-encroachment drive began three months ago.

Replying to a calling-attention motion by P C George (KC-S), he said the evicted land had been vested with the recently constituted Land Bank and it would be used for productive purposes.

Mr Rajendran said 432 illegal constructions had been fully demolished and 459 partially demolished during the drive. Eviction notice had been issued to 700 illegal constructions. The drive would continue till all the government land was retrieved from encroachers. Steps were also being taken on a war-footing to realise lease arrears totalling Rs 57.45 crore, he added.

He said a land information system on land utilisation would be introduced and a legislation, if needed, would be enacted to deal with land mafias.

UNI