Kerala BJP leaders meet Rajnath Singh, discuss Munnar issue

During a meeting with the Kerala BJP leaders in Kochi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday assured steps to save the ecologically sensitive Munnar from enchroachments and illegal constructions.

Kochi, Apr 2: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday assured necessary steps would be taken to save ecologically sensitive Munnar, which Kerala BJP leaders claimed may face 'an Uttarakhand-like disaster' due to encroachments.

"I will go through it. Then, what is needed will be done," he told a delegation of Kerala BJP leaders led by state party chief Kummanam Rajasekharan. The delegation had met him at the nearby Aluva Palace seeking the Centre's intervention in addressing the issue of encroachments and illegal constructions at the tourist town of Munnar in Idukki district.

It informed Singh that the hill station "may witness an Uttarakhand-like disaster" if encroachments and illegal construction on the fragile land were not stopped. The leaders alleged that the encroachments were being carried out with complete support of a local MLA and MP and the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front government was doing nothing to save the hill station from ecological disaster.

They said they met Singh as he was handling the National Disaster Management Authority. The BJP leaders said the Home minister assured them of necessary steps to deal with the situation.

Singh was in Kochi to attend the P Parameswaran Navati celebrations organised by Bharathiya Vichara Kendram, a Sangh outfit.

Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said in Kottayam the LDF government would act firmly against the encroachment and illegal construction going on in Munnar.

Revenue portfolio is held by the CPI's representative in the government, E Chandrasekharan.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the government would bring in restrictions on building tourist resorts in Munnar and take stringent action against encroachments.

R L V Ramakrishnan, the brother of late actor Kalabhavan Mani, also met Singh, seeking a CBI probe into Mani's death. The actor was taken to a hospital in Kochi from his farmhouse near Chalakuddy on March 6 last year. He died two days later while undergoing treatment.

PTI