Kerala - Kochi   

Encroachments found along the backwaters

Staff Reporter

Three-day notices for encroachers

KOCHI: To clear encroachments on the Kochi backwaters, which nature-lovers and environmentalists say are of the most serious type, the district administration embarked on a survey along the waters on Monday.

The survey team, led by Kanayannur Tahsildar Mohandas Pillai and Additional Tahsildar Sasidharan Pillai, detected seven cases of encroachments, mainly on the Thevara backwaters, measuring 48 cents.

From Wednesday, notices will be served on encroachers three days before eviction. District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish had asked the team to prepare a list of 10 serious backwater encroachments. Chilavanoor and Thevara backwaters and Perandur canal were the primary targets, he said.

Incessant rain in the morning interrupted the survey on Mahatma Gandhi Road on Monday, which was called off. The survey would resume on Tuesday.

Henceforth, notices would be issued to the building owner and the tenant. This is following widespread complaints that tenants are caught unawares when the demolition team arrives, as only building owners are issued notices. Mr. Hanish said the eviction drive would resume on directions from the State Government and after giving opportunities to the parties concerned to raise disputes, if any. Voluntary demolition on Mahatma Gandhi Road continued, eyewitnesses said.

The Collector said eviction drive on the road from Madhava Pharmacy to Shenoys had sent out a strong message, prompting voluntary evictions across the district.

He said the district administration had got hold of the report of a digital survey of the road conducted some time in the past.

The proposal for a fresh digital survey had become redundant, as conclusions could be reached by comparing the evicted area with details in the report.

The Ernakulam Merchant's Union welcomed the district administration's decision to temporarily suspend the eviction drive on the road. Eviction should be undertaken after giving the traders enough time and without creating difficulties to them, union president L.A. Joshy and general secretary K.M. Mohammed Nazeer said. They urged the authorities to hold discussions with union representatives.

Notice issued

A Kalamassery-based education institution was issued eviction notice. Illegal constructions in Fort Kochi were voluntarily removed.

The beach, a prime tourism spot, was almost cleared of encroachments. The Collector said encroachments by fisheries-related industries were cleared.

In Aluva, the survey was almost complete. The Collector, however, said that a hearing would be convened to solve disputes, if any, and based on the veracity of the claims, corrective action would be undertaken.

The Collector said taluk-level surveys were progressing well in Paravur, Kunnathunad and so on. Some difficulties were being experienced in Kothamangalam, Perumbavur and Muvattupuzha.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the work had been undertaken in Muvattupuzha, as complaints kept cropping up regarding the measurements.

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