Thiruvananthapuram: The alleged move to hand back two unauthorised buildings constructed in Pallivasal area in Munnar which had been slapped with stop memos by revenue department, has raised several eyebrows.
The two buildings which are estimated to cost over Rs 100 crore, were issued stop memos because of violation of land assignment rules. Though the stop memo was challenged, the court upheld revenue department’s decision following which notices were issued the owners.
Environmentalist Harish Vasudevan said the court had also ordered cancellation of title deed besides takeover of land and building. Moreover, the court had also directed the administration to follow same course in respect of other encroachments in the area.
He alleged that there was a move to bring a notification amending the Land Assignment Rules 1964 to facilitate the handing back of the buildings to the owners despite serious violations. The plan is to give it back on lease and without any precondition.
It is alleged that top officials of the revenue department had already had preliminary meeting and the draft notification amending the rules is expected to be issued after Cabinet clearance within a fortnight.
The notification, if issued, could have far reaching consequences and it could even derail government’s own plan to take over more than 100 resorts through which it is expected to make a gain of Rs 5,000 crore.
The environmentalists have cautioned against the move to amend rules aimed at circumventing court verdicts. They say the government has many options. Once the title deed is cancelled the government can auction the building or can give it on lease to Housing Board. If that is not possible then it could be included in the Life Mission announced by chief minister, to accommodate at least 100 land less families. Or the panchayat can use it on contract basis.
Sources in revenue department said that the government was examining many cases pertaining to violation of land assignment rules in the area. However, there was no decision yet on the nature of notification to be issued whether it would be with retrospective effect or with effect from the date of issuance.
