A night-time eviction drive that was planned in Fort Kochi on Friday to remove encroachers from the heritage zone and beach was postponed after vendors obtained a stay order against the forced eviction.
Following this, Fort Kochi Sub Collector, Suhas S., who also holds additional charge of secretary, Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council said that he held talks with representatives of vendor unions, who agreed to voluntarily remove shacks, push carts etc from the area. A final solution to the vexed encroachment issue will be found in a week.
Around 60 policemen, revenue officials and lorries were kept ready on Friday evening to evict the encroachers. Mr Suhas had led a similar drive in December when vendors and other encroachers pitched tent in the tourist hub.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Suhas said that a permanent monitoring mechanism will be formulated shortly, to prevent encroachments into public land in the tourist destination.
“All agencies, including police will be roped in for the purpose since organised encroachments and subsequent littering is turning away tourists,” he said.
