Transfer of special team members revoked in Idukki

It was constituted to verify land documents in Chinnakanal

The District Collector has revoked an order transferring the members of a special team constituted to verify land documents in Chinnakanal village, which has the most number of land encroachment cases.

An order on Friday said the September 24 order transferring six of the 10-member special team under the Devikulam Subcollector stood cancelled. The new order was issued after Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan directed the Collector to cancel the controversial order.

It said the team was reconstituted and six of its members were transferred on their request. Moreover, the strength of the special team had been reduced to eight from 10. The earlier order was cancelled in the wake of suggestions that it would affect the verification process. The special team was constituted in May 29 under the then Devikulam Subcollector Renu Raj. Based on its findings, the title deeds of the Mumbai-based Apotheosis Infrastructure Ltd and the Delhi-based RDS Project Ltd in Chinnakanal had been cancelled.

The team was reconstituted after the transfer of Ms. Raj who took stern action against encroachments. She had cancelled the title deeds of the land owned by former MP Joice George and his family at Kottakambur in the proposed Kurinji sanctuary.

She had also cancelled the licence and operation permits of Golden Palace Resort owned by K.P. Varkey Group at Pallivasal, which completed the work despite a stop memo issued by the Revenue Department.

A stop memo was also served on a commercial complex under construction on the banks of the Muthirapuzha river for allegedly violating river protection rules. Action was taken in 80 encroachment cases in Devikulam taluk.

There were allegations that the transfer of Ms. Raj and the reconstitution of the special team were aimed at diluting the action against encroachments.

Secretary transferred

Pallivasal grama panchayat secretary Hari Purushothaman who issued the licence and other permits to Golden Palace Resort was transferred on Saturday.

Mr. Purushotaman was posted to Elappara panchayat in the district.