Kerala to Appoint Special Counsel in Cardamom Hill Reserve Case, Says CM Satheesan
CM V.D. Satheesan chaired a high-level meeting in Idukki, announcing a special counsel for the CHR case, revocation of two construction-ban orders, and faster title deed distribution.
The State government will pursue a permanent resolution to the land-related disputes in Idukki, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said on Friday, chairing a high-level meeting at the district Collectorate to review the issue.
A special counsel will be appointed to represent the State in the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) case, the Chief Minister announced. Officials who attended the meeting said he also agreed to revoke two government orders that had imposed a construction ban in the region, and assured that land rules would be amended and settlement issues concerning the Kurinjimala Sanctuary addressed.
On the district's escalating human-wildlife conflict, Mr. Satheesan said problematic wild elephants would be translocated from the Chinnakkanal region. The government, he added, is examining the rising incidents seriously and will act promptly.
Fruit cultivation will be permitted on a portion of plantation land, he said, while stressing that land ownership rights would be upheld. Title deed (pattayam) distribution is to be expedited, with 5,000 deeds slated for handover shortly. The Chief Minister said he would intervene directly to clear pending distribution matters now before the Kerala High Court, noting that 60% of the district's land issues had already been settled and the rest would follow.
Drawing a distinction between genuine settlements and encroachments, he said occupation of public land would not be tolerated, but the interests of genuine farmers would be protected and deeds granted to all eligible claimants. Talks will be held with the Kerala State Electricity Board on title deed distribution in the 3-Chain and 10-Chain areas, and the Kanan Devan Hills (KDH) rules will be amended to grant deeds to 222 families in the Kundala Sandos area of Munnar.
Mr. Satheesan also said the government had decided against converting revenue lands into reserve forests. A joint verification is to be carried out at Mankulam to settle local land disputes, and relevant laws will be amended to revive plantations that are no longer operational.
Forest Minister Shibu Baby John, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob, Government Chief Whip Apu John Joseph, Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, MLAs F. Raja, Cyriac Thomas, Roy K. Paulose and Senapathi Venu, and District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt were present at the meeting.