A confrontation is brewing over the rehabilitation of families to be evicted for the proposed Kochi Metro Rail project with the district administration determined to rehabilitate them on the land identified in Thrikkakara municipality as originally planned whereas the civic body is opposed to the move.
District administration's claim to the land as revenue puramboke is countered by the municipal authorities who claim ownership over the land measuring about 50 cents.
District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed on Monday said that the land was revenue puramboke. He said that the district administration had received legal opinion to that effect. Mr. Pareed said that only 12 cents were needed as only three families were to be given four cents each. He said that the district administration is moving ahead with the proposal to rehabilitate the families on the land in question.
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Thrikkakara municipality chairman P.I. Mohammadali, however, said that the civic body will not retract from the previous position. “We have already conveyed our position to the Collector and there is no change in it,” he said. Mr. Mohammadali cited the unanimous decision reached by the special council last week against using the municipal land for rehabilitation.
The issue has its origins in the district administration's move early last week to rehabilitate three families, who were to be evicted in connection with the construction of a railway overbridge near the KSRTC bus stand for the proposed Metro Rail project, on a plot in the municipality.
Municipal councillors disrupted the move to measure the land ahead of the rehabilitation.. They were also angered by the removal of a board which proclaimed the municipality's ownership over the land.
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The municipality said that the land had been earmarked for a proposed Ayurveda hospital. The special council suggested that puramboke land in Thuthiyoor could be used for the rehabilitation of the families.