KOTTAYAM: Kerala Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran has asked the Idukki District Collector to take necessary steps to stop all illegal construction activities in Munnar and surrounding areas with immediate effect.

STF set up

The Government formed a 30-member Special Task Force under the joint leadership of Devikolam and Idukki Sub-Collectors to look into the cases of encroachments in Munnar, Devikolam and Udumbanchola areas, said Mr. Rajendran and Forest Minister Benoy Viswom who made a fact-finding visit to the areas on Tuesday.

Speaking to presspersons at Munnar after the visit, the Ministers said additional Land Revenue Commissioner V.M. Gopala Menon was asked to submit a report within two weeks on encroachments and illegal construction works in the area. The services of the Police, Forest and Registration Departments would be extended for this purpose, Mr. Rajendran said. The Ministers said they were convinced of the large-scale encroachments going on in the area but added that many of them had taken place during the tenure of the previous United Democratic Front (UDF) Government.

The Ministers also made it clear that they were convinced of the connivance of the district revenue authorities in the ongoing encroachments and there was a major failure on their part in not reporting it on time.

To a question, the Revenue Minister said, ``no one will be spared, how high an officer he or she might be.''

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