Kerala Chief Minister Ommen Chandy continues VS' Munnar eviction policy

KOCHI: Despite the rain clouds that have gathered over the hill station, Munnar has become a hot topic in Kerala, once again, with the Congress-led Ommen Chandy government launching measures to prevent encroachment of government land.

Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Monday flagged off eviction measures by reclaiming government land in many places in and around Munnar. Altogether 455 acres were reclaimed in six places in the first day, the minister said.

The government had earned the support of all political parties for the programme during an all-party meeting. The minister had made it clear that the eviction procedure would be carried out peacefully through "legal measures."

He said economically backward sections on the encroached land would be rehabilitated. Widespread encroachment in Munnar had led former Chief Minister VS Acthuthanandan to deploy a team of officials to reclaim government land.

The forcible evictions carried out by the team came to a standstill following litigations. It is after a gap of around three years that the programme is being re-launched by the United Democratic Front ministry. The urgency shown by the Chandy government to resolve the three-and-a-half year old Moolampally issue in less than a month after it assumed office has also earned him appreciation from different quarters.

The people who were evicted from the land acquired for the Vallarpadam Container Trans-shipment Project in Kochi have been carrying on an agitation for a proper rehabilitation package. If Munnar and Moolampally have helped the government to project a better image, Finance Minister KM Mani's budget has invited criticism from the ruling front itself.

Few Congress MLAs criticised 'lopsided' policies in the budget. Critics of the budget say the entire coastal belt and some districts have been neglected.