THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As part of granting title-deeds to the maximum number of settlers, the state government has decided to make eligible wastelands, grasslands and dense forests in Cardamom Hill Reserve area in the Udumbanchola taluk of Idukki for assignment under the Land Assignment Act. The order to this effect was issued on August 7. It, however, states that the sanction of the central government has to be obtained.
As per the Land Assignment Special Rules 1993, areas are recorded as 'tharisu' (wasteland), 'pulmedu' (grassland), 'reserve forest' and 'karimkadu' in Re-survey Fair Land Register.
Now, except for reserve forest, the other types of lands have been freed for land assignment. Out of the 20884.59 hectares of land for which central sanction has been obtained for the assignment, land parcels with the tenure of 'tharisu', 'pulmedu', 'reserve forest', and 'karimkadu' have been included.
The Resurvey Fair Land Register is treated as the basic record to determine the nature of possession during the course of assignment proceedings of land as per the Special Rules 1993 in CHR, Idukki.
The land is eligible for assignment only if the records show it as non-cardamom cultivation. If it is recorded as 'tharisu', 'pulmedu', 'reserve forest', 'karimkadu,' it cannot be ascertained that the land was converted for non-cardamom cultivation before January 1, 1977.
