The tribal and some other organizations of Attappady here on Wednesday have rejected Government offer to return 85.21 acres of land encroached by multinational windmill companies and the income from two windmills constructed in it.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during his briefing after State Cabinet meeting announced in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday that 85.21 acres of tribal land encroached by windmill companies will be returned to tribal people and also income from two windmills in the land to them.
But the tribal organizations alleged that “this move of Government is to halt the legal actions and criminal proceedings initiated last year against windmill companies who allegedly fabricated documents to annex tribal land.”
As per Government Order (GO) No.4866\2010 of November 12, 2010 the Government accepted the report of High Power Committee appointed by it on tribal land headed by Chief Secretary and initiated Departmental and other actions against fabricating land documents and officials involved in its making and getting it registered in Agali Sub Registrar office.
Five government officials of Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS) and a Village Officer were suspended.
Three of hem had to take bail going to Supreme Court and one from High Court.
High Power Committee found that entire land in Survey No.1273 and 1275 of Kottathara village except 42 acres of forest was owned by tribes as they are paying land tax regularly.
The total area of Survey No.1275 was only 224 acres of which 42 acres are forest.
But 268 acres of land was registered in the name of windmill companies using fabricated documents.
In Survey No.1273 has only 8.5 acres that belonged to tribal people. But this land was also registered in the name of windmill companies, Mr. Sukumaran, Convenor of Attappady Samrakshana Samithy said.
High Power Committee directed Sub Registrar to cancel these documents and initiate action against those involved in fabricating it.
Vigilance Department had initiated action against these fabricated documents and other malpractices.
“When these actions are progressing the Government move to settle the issue by giving back 85 acres of land and profit from two windmills to tribal people is to sabotage the legal actions to help windmill companies and their agents,” said President of Girijan Seva Samithy U.C. Kunchan.
They have demanded return of the entire land in survey no.1273 and 1275 that were found to be tribal land by High Power Committee.
Not only this encroached land but they wanted the restoration of 10,796 acres of land that were found to be alienated in Attappady over the years to find a lasting solution to the vexed tribal land issue.
