Kerala - Kochi   

Demolitions to continue

Special Correspondent

Encroachers to get three-day notice

KOCHI: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has asked the Ernakulam district administration to continue the drive to resume Government land, but give breathing space to traders and others to vacate encroached property on their own.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish said the Chief Minister, at a meeting with him at the Aluva Palace guest house on Sunday, expressed satisfaction with the anti-encroachment drive in the district, especially on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Kochi.

Mr. Achuthanandan, however, wanted the Collector to give a little more time to encroachers to leave voluntarily and remove illegal constructions on their own. The notice period would now be three days, Mr. Hanish told The Hindu .

More time

But in deserving cases, he would use his discretionary power to extend it. Those staying on still would have to face demolition. He said that in Perumbavoor, traders were given a week's time.

Two days ago, at a meeting of Collectors and tahsildars at Thiruvanathapuram, Ministers and top revenue officials had wanted encroachers to be given more time to leave. The meeting authorised the Collectors to use their discretionary powers to decide on the period of time necessary. They were told to not hurt the poor.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Slew of new star-hotels in Kochi to woo tourists
Brahmapuram to have green belt
Rs.155-crore outlay for coastal highway work
Registrations on for pre-admission guidance
Response to CPI at appropriate time: VS
Demolitions to continue
PCB group recommends action against municipality
Competition in singing Rafi songs
Government plans law to help traditional fishermen
Record tax collection in Ernakulam district
Abducted fisherman writes to family
Back to school
Vacation delights
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu