KOCHI: In a new development, the encroachers along the M.G. Road area who are facing eviction have made an offer to give alternative land to the district administration in lieu of the land they had encroached upon.

Some of the traders, who had approached the court for relief, reportedly made such an offer in the court.

The proposal, however, was yet to acquire a clear and formal shape to be discussed seriously.

This move would help the traders to retain their buildings, which at present was under the threat of being pulled down. If the eviction were to be made strict as per the findings of the revenue authorities, it would acquire a zigzag proportion in many areas presenting practical difficulties.

A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, District Collector, said that only the Government could make a decision on such offers. If the proposal were to be feasible, the land offered in reciprocity should be on the roadside on the M.G. Road region itself.

He said the local self-government institutions were increasingly coming forward to take part in the anti-encroachment drive launched by the district administration. This was an encouraging trend, he said.

He said that 90 per cent of the encroachments on the M.G. Road area had been either voluntarily cleared or forcefully evicted.

Survey along the backwaters in the Chilavannur river area was making good progress, the Collector said. He said that notices would be issued only after the survey was completed.

He criticised the Kothamangalam taluk officials for the lackadaisical way in which the anti-encroachment drive was being carried out there. He said the district administration was prepared to deploy more staff, if needed, for survey and related work, but would not tolerate dereliction of duty on the part of the officials.

He said that a report in this regard would be sent to the Revenue Secretary and necessary steps would be taken. A meeting would be held on June 9 in the presence of Fisheries Minister S. Sarma to resolve some disputes relating to eviction in the Fort Kochi beach area.

He said the Aluva taluk officials had been strictly directed to act against encroachers, except those who had secured stay on eviction.

He said that survey in the Aluva town would be completed this week itself.

He urged the encroachers in the Angamali junction and along the M.C. Road and NH 47 to remove the illegal structures on their own without waiting for official action. The survey in Angamali was set to start next week, he said.

In Muvattupuzha, encroachers would have time till the end of this week to adopt corrective steps, as eviction drive would start only next week, he said.

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