The Hindu : Front Page : 25 cents recovered in the heart of the city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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25 cents recovered in the heart of the city

Staff Reporter

— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

DETERMINED: Anti-encroachment operation in progress in the East Fort area on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a day-long drive in the capital city as much as 25 cents of encroached land was recovered by revenue authorities on Monday.

The drive started in the city in the East Fort area shortly after 9 a.m. with earthmovers moving in on buildings that, over the years, had come upon government land.

A large posse of police was present. The stretch of road from the Transport Bhavan junction to the eastern gate of the Padmanabhaswamy temple was sealed prior to the demolitions.

Responding to the pleas of traders in the East Fort area, District Collector N. Ayyppan agreed that the footpath on the side of the road leading from Rajdhani Buildings to the showroom of Alukkas Jewellery would not be dug up immediately.

"The traders told me that if the footpath was dug up the entire road will get clogged with mud when it rains. We agreed that the footpath will only be surveyed and measured and marked now. Later, when the drainage canal is built, the footpath will be removed," Mr. Ayyappan said. The traders cooperated with the team of revenue officials, he said.

The traders told him that they would not allow the demolition of a building just because it jutted out just about a foot or so into government land.

The buildings were not touched; only those portions jutting out on to the road were pulled down. By afternoon 46 such structures were demolished leading to the recovery of 13.5 cents estimated at Rs.2.5 crore.

In the evening, the scene of action shifted to West Fort where a team of revenue officials led by tahsildar C.R. Krishnakumar moved in on nine shops built on encroached land.

Unlike in the case of the buildings in East Fort, the shops in the West Fort area were demolished using earthmovers. As much as 11.5 cents of land was recovered.

In Neyyattinkara taluk, encroachments to the extent of two acres have been identified.

In Nedumangad taluk encroached land at Nedumangad junction was surveyed. In Chirayinkeezhu taluk 15 acres of encroached land has been identified.

The eviction drive will continue in the coming days, the Collector said.

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