MUNNAR: Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has warned of strong action against illegal encroachment in Munnar. He told reporters here on Tuesday that the eviction drive would be carried out by protecting the interests of farmers who had been there for the past several years. Thiruvanchoor added that the government had a clear-cut plan to curb encroachment. “A report on my visit will be submitted to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The government will take steps against encroachments,” the minister said and added that it might be for the first time that a government representative was visiting the encroached areas.Thiruvanchoor said the government had issued 300 title deeds and 2,500 land documents under the Forest Rights Act.“In Gap Road alone, 250 acres of land has been encroached upon and buildings have been constructed there illegally. In Chinnakanal, over 100 acres of land has been taken over. Encroachment has been spotted at the Anayirangal area too. It was found that a road has been laid to cater to the interest of a private person using the panchayat fund. In some cases, people from outside the state have been found using Adivasis for encroaching upon the land”, he said.The minister added that the Adivasi communities would be provided land.“Several cases of elephant attacks on people have been reported. Hence, there is a need to rehabilitate people who have settled here for years. Complaints of wild elephant attacks will be taken seriously,” he said. Land SurveyThe Revenue Minister said the land survey could not be completed manually. The help of national agencies like the ISRO and National Informatics Centre would be sought for the purpose. Only with the help of modern techniques could such surveys be effectively conducted. A proper survey would end the encroachment issues. The Forest and Revenue Departments would make a joint effort in that regard, he said.Political Backing For EvictionOn the political support enjoyed by the encroachers, he said all political parties had a positive approach towards the eviction drive and that he did not believe that any party would stand against it. “Some individuals may possess encroached land but no political party has ever supported it. All the political parties will jointly fight against illegal land encroachment” he said.Chengara issueExpressing concern over the plight of those who were evicted from Chengara, he said: “The people of Chengara were given barren land in remote areas. The government understands why many rehabilitated families left the area. The last government provided `3,000 to just six families and the rest of them are living in temporary sheds. The cases of rehabilitated families will be considered with prime importance”. The minister added that of the 657 families rehabilitated, only 13 families remained there and that raised questions about the effective implementation of the Chengara rehabilitation programme. Thrivanchoor said the Munnar tribunal which was handling land-related cases would be given a new building and additional staff to streamline its functioning. Earlier in the day, the minister visited the Chinnakanal and Anayirangal areas. In the afternoon, he visited the Kanthallor and Vattavada areas where the Chengara evictees have been rehabilitated.
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