Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan called for strong measures to evict the encroachments and unauthorised constructions at Munnar on Sunday.
In a statement here, the Opposition Leader said that an all party delegation should visit Munnar in view of the intensification of land grab and draw up a time bound plan for eviction of the encroachers.
Mr. Achuthahdnan said that he had information that the land distributed to plantation labour by the previous government was now being brought by the land mafia by tricking the labourers. About half of the 200 acres distributed to labourers in Kuriarvalley had now changed hands. Agreements were being signed with labourers in such a manner as to bypass the condition that the land is not transferable for 25 years.
He noted that encroachments and illegal constructions were taking place elsewhere on government land. Videos of construction activities had been aired by television channels.
Recalling that the Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash had denied fresh encroachments and maintained that they were all creation of the media, Mr. Achuthanandan noted that this suggested that the government is aiding the encroachers.
Mr. Achuthanandan claimed that encroachments had started again after the present government came to power. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had called an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and all parties had extended their cooperation for evicting the encroachers. Though a lot of noise had been made by the then Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who is now the Home Minister, none had been evicted.
