Minister for Revenue Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has said that a legislation will be passed in the next session of the Assembly to make the title deeds issued to the farmers in Idukki condition-free.
This was to ensure the rights of farmers over the land as the ordinance in this regard had lapsed.
Inaugurating a district-level ‘pattaya mela' here on Friday, the Minister said the policy of the United Democratic Front government was to keep the land holdings in a family under a single umbrella and this was the reason for raising the land limit from one acre to four acres while issuing the title deeds.
“The aim is to protect the interests of all farmers who occupied land in the district before January 1, 1977. There is no need for any concern and the government is committed to protecting the interests of the farmers,” the Minister said adding that all deserving persons would get valid title deeds after nine months.
He said title deeds would be issued to the farmers at all abandoned hydroelectric project areas such as Perinjamkutty and Koothunkal. However, in the case of issuing title deeds at the Ten Chain project areas of the Idukki dam, there should be discussion with the Kerala State Electricity Board and steps would be taken in this regard, he said.
The Minister said 1,541 hectares in the district remained to be surveyed for issuing the title deeds and hoped that revenue officials would complete it soon. Six land assignment offices had been set up to expedite the process of issuing title deeds, he said.
In Munnar, the Minister said the government was firm on evicting all encroachments. A new face for Munnar was being created protecting its biodiversity and the decision taken at an all-party meeting would be followed in letter and spirit.
He said all alienated land would be restored to the tribal people at Attappadi.
Regarding rehabilitation of Chengara agitators, he said those given land at Chandramandalam would be rehabilitated as the area was not suitable for habitation.
Later, distributing forest right documents to the Adivasis, Minister for Irrigation P.J. Joseph said there should not be hair-splitting discussions on providing title deeds in areas marked environmentally sensitive. The farmers there also had the right to get proper title deeds, he said.
Earlier, Collector E.Devadasan said 3,000 title deeds and 2,600 documents under the Forest Rights Act were for distribution.
Peoples' representatives and senior revenue officials attended the function.
