The Hindu : Front Page : VS hits out at land mafia

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Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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VS hits out at land mafia

Staff Reporter

Says the mafia uses hawala money to grab land in State

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Guard of honour: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inspects the guard of honour at the Independence Day parade in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. —

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan here on Wednesday said a clutch of dubiously rich real estate racketeers are trying to amass large tracts of land in Kerala.

Speaking at the 60th anniversary of the country’s independence, he said land should not be allowed to concentrate in the hands of a rich few yet again. The Land Reforms Act enacted by the first Communist Government in 1957 and historic struggles by landless farmers had destroyed feudalism in the State.

The mafia uses hawala money to hoard land in cities and other key centres. The poor are being driven out of their small holdings. The land thus accumulated is sold at a rate several times higher than the original price, he said.

The mafia treats land as a commodity for investing black money. Its actions, particularly the creation of “land banks,” are against public interest. Land is fast becoming an unattainable possession for the common man. The people should be vigilant of the land mafia.

The Government has launched a movement to repossess encroached land. The land mafia is being thrown out of Munnar. Strong action is under way against land grabbers in Wagamon, Kovalam and Munnar. The State will repossess the land encroached by Tata Tea in a time-bound manner.

Higher education

Higher education is inaccessible to economically and socially backward classes, despite 60 years of freedom and equality. “This situation cannot be tolerated,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.

The self-financing colleges Bill introduced by the Government for protecting merit and social justice in the education sector was struck down by the Court.

The Chief Minister called for a Central legislation, keeping in mind the interests of different States, to protect the educational interests of the common man.

Vector-borne diseases and epidemics will be prevented by putting in place scientific garbage disposal systems. Plastic waste contamination will be drastically reduced. Large players will be discouraged from entering the retail sector.

The Chief Minister unfurled the national flag and took the national salute at the Independence Day parade.

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