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Spectre of demolition continues to haunt resorts

R. Ramabhadran Pillai

CPI(M) leader warns against bid to demolish party office in Munnar

MUNNAR: The spectre of demolition continues to haunt hotel and resort owners in Munnar as the Government appears firm on getting rid of illegal occupations in the hill station.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran’s statement on Wednesday about the impending demolition of a hotel which has been in the eye of a storm has brought the issue back on centre stage in Munnar. The Minister’s statement was apparently intended to quell doubts arising out of an official direction from a top Revenue Department functionary to seal off the particular hotel instead of demolishing it. The official stand had given rise to criticism from the Opposition that the Government was adopting double standard.

Nevertheless, the anti-encroachment drive to be launched in Wagamon next week is not expected to be of the same nature as that of Munnar. The reason behind the so-called soft approach is that the Wagamon area is not governed by rules applicable to Munnar. Construction in the Cardamom Hills Reserve needs to be treated differently, according to officials.

The demolition of structures constructed within 50 yards of river banks in Munnar has now been subjected to legal scrutiny. The latest order is for maintaining status quo. This means that the Government will not be able to demolish such resorts and hotels now.

Meanwhile, a convention of traders and owners of various commercial establishments, convened here by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] on Wednesday, resolved to oppose any move to evict settlers occupying small holdings in the town and adjoining areas. The convention supported the Government’s move to take over government land illegally occupied by large entities.

CPI(M) Idukki district secretary M.M. Mani demanded that over 500 title deeds which were mired in controversy be regularised, except the fake ones. The majority of these title deeds pertained to small holdings. Most parts of idukki district have settlers occupying half to 5 cents each. These people should not be evicted. Cultivation of cardamom alone has not been profitable and hence farming of inter-crops has been taken up in various places. These should not be treated as violation of norms, liable to takeover action.

He said that party activists would oppose tooth and nail any attempt to demolish the CPI(M) office in Munnar. The private hotel that functioned at the building has stopped operation from there a week ago. The party had asked the hotel owner to vacate the premises anticipating action in the wake of controversy surrounding the title deeds of the land upon which the building has been constructed.

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