Big encroachments to be removed in Munnar: CM

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday made it clear that the government would not show any leniency in removing "big encroachments" from public land at Munnar in hilly Idukki district.

Vijayan said the government was committed to protecting and preserving the environment and beauty of Munnar, a most sort after tourist spots in the state.

"Government will not allow anybody to make Munnar, an ecologically sensitive area and any other part of the district, a concrete jungle," Vijayan said.

The government would take a positive approach towards those poor people who do not have land, he said, adding, title deeds would be given to all those who have settled before 1977.

Tribals would be provided land and its documents, he added.

He said the government was moving ahead with the process of distributing title deeds. Applications would be accepted for issuing title deeds from next week, he said. Vijayan was speaking at a meeting of representatives of parties and MLAs besides traders from the area to discuss the Idukki land issue here.

State power minister M M Mani, revenue additional chief secretary P H Kurian, Idukki district collector G R Gokul, sub-collector Sriram Venkitaraman were among those who attended the meeting.

The meeting was called on the basis of a complaint filed by traders and MLAs from the area on the issue.

The governments anti-encroachment drive in Munnar had run into trouble after revenue officials headed by sub-collector removed a metal cross on alleged encroached land.

The munnar land issue had also resulted in war of words between CPI-M and CPI, the second largest partner in the ruling LDF.